A new YouGov study into Australians’ view of Father’s Day (it’s this Sunday, if you’d forgotten) has found that 69 per cent of us think the day is just a ploy by retailers to get us to fork out on expensive gifts and cards.
The study, of 1000 Australians, also found we’re pretty stingy when it comes to dad’s special day. The majority of us (60 per cent) spend less than $20 on dad, and only 19 per cent admit to spending more than $50.
By contrast, just 14 per cent of Australians are not planning on getting their father a gift.
Aussies seem to have a clear idea about what they will buy their fathers this year. Out of a list of twelve options, the most popular choices among respondents were: a card (27 per cent); gift vouchers (25 per cent); a meal (24 per cent); clothing (20 per cent); and alcohol (17 per cent).
YouGov’s research also shows that Aussies know what their fathers want. When asked what they want to receive on Father’s Day, the most popular choices were very similar to those that they are set to receive. Fathers’ top choices were: a meal (35 per cent); gift vouchers (31 per cent); a card (25 per cent); alcohol (19 per cent); and clothing (19 per cent), suggesting gift-givers are very in tune with what their fathers want from Father’s Day.
70 per cent of men believe a father’s main role should be to provide for the family
The vast majority of Aussies believe that fathers play an important role, but this declines among younger generations. Overall, four-fifths of respondents (82 per cent) believe fathers are instrumental in bringing up children. This rises to 88 per cent in those over 55 but falls to 70 per cent among those aged 18-24.
And more than eight in ten (84 per cent) still believe that Father’s Day provides a good opportunity for families to spend time together.
However, genders are divided about what the role of a father actually is. While 70 per cent of men believe that a father’s main role should be to provide for the family by working and earning money. Just half (53 per cent) of women agree.
Younger generations are twice as likely to believe that mothers should have more custody rights than fathers
Despite widespread agreement that fathers play an important role in bringing up children, generations diverge about who should be the primary caregiver when parents divorce. Though eight in ten (81 per cent) believe that both parents should have equal rights, those aged 18-34 are twice as likely to believe that the mother should have more rights over the custody of the children than those over 55; 14 per cent of young people believe this, compared with six per cent of those over 55.
