February 1, 2013 By National Jeweler
Los Angeles–A new, pre-Valentine’s Day survey conducted for retailer Robbins Brothers indicates that a number of long-held traditional beliefs about men’s and women’s roles in romantic relationships are changing.
According to the survey, which polled 800 respondents in the western United States between Oct. 27 and Nov. 19, more than 40 percent of men and 30 percent of women think it is OK for the woman to propose marriage, instead of the man.
In addition, the survey showed that two-thirds, or about 67 percent, of men are “open” to the idea of wearing an engagement ring.
The notion that the so-called man-gagement ring is growing in popularity has surfaced in other surveys lately, though not in such high numbers as seen in the Robbins Brothers poll. In the fifth annual Proposal and Engagement Survey released on Valentine’s Day 2012 by Men’s Health magazine and TheKnot.com, 17 percent of men surveyed said they would wear an engagement ring.
Other findings from the Robbins Brothers survey include:
— When asked what makes an engagement official, 80 percent of respondents said the ring.
— Social media plays a key role in engagements today. Half of respondents said they would update their Facebook status immediately after the proposal and 75 percent would do so within a week. A total of 67 percent of those surveyed said they would allow their proposal to be recorded and posted on YouTube, and 10 percent would actually propose on YouTube.
— More than half of respondents said they would accept an electronic proposal but nearly 75 percent said an intimate dinner for two would be the ideal setting for popping the question.
— One in three survey-takers said they wish their proposal would have been more fanciful.
— Even in a weak economy, 50 percent of respondents said that getting married and buying a home still are considered priorities.
Independent national research firm Steve Elliott Marketing Research conducted the online survey for Azusa, Calif.-based Robbins Brothers, a chain of 12 stores in California and Texas. It polled people who recently have entertained the idea of becoming engaged, have just gotten engaged or recently married.
Robbins Brothers posted an entry about the survey, including more results, on its blog,
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