Complaint

Oldernotwiser

I'd like to protest very strongly about the recent poll/discussion started by a member of the MSE staff.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3657827

This would seem to breach all sorts of forum rules and would, I hope, not be even dreamed of if the question related to different earnings for ethnic/religious groups, the disabled or any other separate categories.

The fact that it's worded as "does it feel right" rather than "should" is just blatant hypocrisy.

Vejovis

i think theres something wrong when in 2011 the question says "I’d prefer if he were the only wage earner" rather than having the same choice for men and women

clemmatis

I agree with both of you. The poll's very badly worded.

MSE_Martin

I'd like to protest very strongly about the recent poll/discussion started by a member of the MSE staff.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=3657827

This would seem to breach all sorts of forum rules and would, I hope, not be even dreamed of if the question related to different earnings for ethnic/religious groups, the disabled or any other separate categories.

The fact that it's worded as "does it feel right" rather than "should" is just blatant hypocrisy.

Thank you for your note. First of all do understand this is primarily a main site poll - not a discussion - that is just our regular discussion link we do from polls. We thought very carefully before writing this poll and were very deliberate with the wording, as is explained in the poll discussion. The poll doesn't break any forum rules.

The whole poll came about from me overhearing a discussion of a group of women who all felt uncomfortable that they earned more than their partners. I was surprised by this and thought it was worth working out how widespread such a feeling is.

It is designed to test attitudes to gender within a couple and earnings. Things have hopefully changed but you can't know that without asking people.

It is testing whether attitudes have changed. The results already show that a very substantial minority of men and women still believe the 'man should be the main breadwinner'. Without asking the question you don't know the answer. While you may disagree with that viewpoint (as do I) that doesnt' mean it doesnt exist.

As for using "feel" thats because its exactly that we're testing - what people feel, to ask should is a different question, thats about how people think they feel not what they actual do feel. I don't see the hypocracy and find that a very strange thing to say.

i think theres something wrong when in 2011 the question says "I’d prefer if he were the only wage earner" rather than having the same choice for men and women

The questions are identical for men and women. They both have the same options. Yet as explained in the discussion thread. This is not a "do you think your partner should earn more than you" this is about gender. It is asking about whether things have truly changed or people believe gender still has a role.

Due to that the point is about one gender earning more than the other and the wording reflects that. Yet both genders have identical options phrased as closely as is possible. Do read them again and let me know where you think they actually differ.

Kind regards

Martin

PS I wont be respondng in this thread any more - if you have any points please address them in the poll discussion link. So everything is in one place.