Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

February 20, 2021. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey devoted to the following issues: what Russians value in men; how household chores should be divided; who should serve in the army; who is a real man among the famous persons.

Important characteristics for men

Top high-value traits in men are honesty, frankness and straightforwardness; they are appreciated by 19% of Russians – often men (22%). This is followed by reliability, confidence and consistency; 14% of Russians think so, often women (18% vs. 8% of men). Decency and justice are ranked third (9%).

Distribution of duties

Most of Russians believe that men and women should equally be responsible for household chores (85%). Women are more likely to share this stance than men (89% vs. 81%). Seven percent of respondents think that household chores are a female duty; 5% point to men.

Child-rearing should be shared (86%); men’s and women’s opinions do not differ much (85% and 88, respectively).

According to 59% of respondents, it is a man’s duty to feed the family: those who think so are often men (65%) and the 35-44-year-olds (64%). One-third of Russians support equal duties in this issue (35%): often women (40%) and young Russians aged 18-24 (44%).

Seventy-one percent of Russians consider that family leisure should be organized by both man and woman. Every fifth thinks it is a female duty (18%); remarkably, those who think so are often women themselves (23%).

Army service is a must-do for men, according to 68% of Russians (71% of men). Every fourth thinks both men and women can serve in the army (27%): the youngest and the oldest respondents often think so (30%, each).

Real man’s duties

The main duties of a real man are to protect the family, to actively participate in the family life and to take care of it (18%). Man must be a defender (8%), a decent and respectable person (8%) and responsible (5%; often women — 8%). In addition, men should be polite, heedful of planting a tree and building a house; he should also stand by his own words and be responsible for his deeds (4%, each).

Real men among famous persons

Who is a real man among pop stars, politicians, performers, public figures, according to Russians? Respondents opt for Vasily Lanovoy and Vladimir Putin (9%, each). Konstantin Khabensnky also made it to the top three (6%).

Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on February 14, 2021. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

What do you prize most in men? (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents, answers of at least 2% of respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Honesty / sincerity / straightforwardness

19

22

17

Reliability / confidence /consistency

14

8

18

Decency / justice

9

9

9

Masculinity / courage / power

7

8

5

Fidelity / devotion

6

3

8

Ability to  stand for your words and be responsible for your deeds / keep your word

5

8

2

Hard work / strong work

5

5

4

Responsibility / serious approach

5

4

5

Intelligence / brain / education

3

1

5

Kindness / outgoingness / ability to  be compassionate, to support

3

2

3

Attentive, caring, respectful attitude

2

1

3

Moral virtues / character

2

1

2

Well-being / ability to make money / self-reliance

2

2

2

Sense of purpose

2

1

2

Nothing

0

0

0

Other

10

10

11

Don’t know

16

19

13

Honesty / sincerity / straightforwardness

19

22

17

Reliability / confidence /consistency

14

8

18

In your opinion, should the household chores be a male duty, a female duty, or should they be shared equally by men and women? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Likely a female duty

7

6

8

5

9

7

7

5

Likely a male duty

5

9

1

8

4

6

4

4

Men and women should share housework equally

85

81

89

86

84

83

85

87

It depends on housework, on how much free time each one has

2

3

2

1

2

3

2

3

Don’t know

1

1

0

0

1

1

2

1

In your opinion, who should be responsible for child-rearing in the family - men, women or equally men and women? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60+

Women

9

10

9

10

11

8

8

11

Men

2

3

2

3

2

2

3

2

Men and women should share child rearing

86

85

88

87

86

89

87

84

It depends on the situation, on how much free time each one has

1

1

1

0

1

1

1

2

Don’t know

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

In your opinion, who should be the main breadwinner in the family - men, women or both  men and women? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60+

Women

1

2

1

3

1

0

2

1

Men

59

65

54

53

61

64

62

53

Men and women should equally contribute to family budget

35

29

40

44

35

32

31

38

It depends on how successful each one is in his/her career

3

3

4

0

3

2

3

6

Don’t know

2

1

1

0

0

2

2

2

In your opinion, who should be responsible for family leisure activities - men, women or equally men and women? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60+

Women

18

13

23

16

16

17

20

20

Men

6

8

5

12

8

7

4

6

Men and women should put equal effort in family leisure

71

74

69

72

74

74

72

67

It depends on the skills of each partner, his/her work schedule

2

2

2

0

0

0

2

4

Don’t know

3

3

1

0

2

2

2

3

In your opinion, who should serve in the army— only men, only women, or both men and women?

 (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Only men

68

71

66

55

68

70

71

69

Only women

1

1

1

2

1

2

1

0

Both men and women

27

24

29

30

24

24

26

30

Don’t know

4

4

4

13

7

4

2

1

People have different views on how men and women should behave. Can you continue the phrase “A real man should …?”: (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents, answers of at least 2% of respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Protect the family / take care of the family / feed the family / participate in the life of his family

18

17

19

Be a defender (of his family, Motherland)

8

9

8

Be a real man / decent and respectable 

8

8

7

Be responsible

5

2

8

Be polite / show respect to women, parents, elderly persons

4

2

6

Plant a tree / build a house

4

6

2

Stand for his words and be responsible for his deeds/ keep his word

4

4

4

Be able to earn money / be a breadwinner

3

5

3

Love his wife (woman), children, family/ value them

3

2

5

Work / be hardworking

3

2

4

Honest / fair

3

2

3

Be a patriot / love his Motherland / serve in the army

2

3

2

Have, grow and raise his children / give them education

2

3

2

Masculine / strong / brave

2

2

2

He doesn’t owe anyone anything

3

3

2

Other

15

13

16

Don’t know

16

17

15

Who would you call a real man among the famous actors, singers, politicians and public figures?(open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of total respondents; answers of at least 2% of respondents)

 

Total respondents

Lanovoy

9

Putin

9

Khabensky

6

Kobzon

2

Lavrov

2

Bezrukov

2

Shoigu

2

Navalny

2

Zhirinovsky

2

Leshchenko

2

Vysotsky

2

Tikhonov

2

Boyarsky

2

Don’t know

45

Other

58

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