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| Pre-marital sex 'more accepted' | Pre-marital sex 'more accepted' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| British people are increasingly tolerant of sex before marriage, a survey suggests. | British people are increasingly tolerant of sex before marriage, a survey suggests. |
| The British Social Attitudes Survey suggests 70% of the 3,000 people polled had no objections to pre-marital sex - up from 48% in 1984. | The British Social Attitudes Survey suggests 70% of the 3,000 people polled had no objections to pre-marital sex - up from 48% in 1984. |
| Only 28% thought married parents brought up children best. And fewer men now think it is "their job" to earn money while the women stay at home. | Only 28% thought married parents brought up children best. And fewer men now think it is "their job" to earn money while the women stay at home. |
| Survey director Alison Park said: "Our views are becoming much more liberal." | Survey director Alison Park said: "Our views are becoming much more liberal." |
| Regarding the notion of married parents bringing up children best, a spokeswoman for the Family and Parenting Institute said: "The quality of the relationship that parents have matters most - not necessarily their marital status." | |
| However, she added: "Evidence suggests that when people get married, their relationship lasts longer. In terms of bringing up children, the longevity of a relationship is obviously important." | |
| 'Tolerant Britain' | 'Tolerant Britain' |
| Authors of the report, by the National Centre for Social Research (NCSR), say it reveals a "more tolerant and liberal Britain" on attitudes toward sex and marriage, compared to 20 years ago. | Authors of the report, by the National Centre for Social Research (NCSR), say it reveals a "more tolerant and liberal Britain" on attitudes toward sex and marriage, compared to 20 years ago. |
| On the issues of race and poverty however, the trend is less clear cut. | On the issues of race and poverty however, the trend is less clear cut. |
| More than 3,000 interviews were carried out with a representative sample of people across the UK. Interviewees were asked about their attitudes towards marriage, sex, the environment and politics. | More than 3,000 interviews were carried out with a representative sample of people across the UK. Interviewees were asked about their attitudes towards marriage, sex, the environment and politics. |
| As well as a more relaxed attitude towards marriage, the poll suggests that the view of the gender divide in the family home is also shifting. | As well as a more relaxed attitude towards marriage, the poll suggests that the view of the gender divide in the family home is also shifting. |
| Only 17% of men polled thought they should be the main breadwinners - down from 32% in 1989. | Only 17% of men polled thought they should be the main breadwinners - down from 32% in 1989. |
| But while attitudes may be changing, there is less evidence that people's behaviour is following suit. | But while attitudes may be changing, there is less evidence that people's behaviour is following suit. |
| The fact that there is a gap between what people say and what they are actually willing to do is not hypocrisy. A lot of people are genuinely conflicted on what they should do Alison Parks, survey director | The fact that there is a gap between what people say and what they are actually willing to do is not hypocrisy. A lot of people are genuinely conflicted on what they should do Alison Parks, survey director |
| On housework, nearly eight in 10 people (77%) with partners say that the woman usually or always does the laundry. This has changed little since 1994, when the figure was 81%. | On housework, nearly eight in 10 people (77%) with partners say that the woman usually or always does the laundry. This has changed little since 1994, when the figure was 81%. |
| And men and women disagree when it comes to saying how much of the housework they do. Whereas two-thirds of women say that in their relationship they usually or always do the cleaning, just half of the men who were questioned agreed with this. | And men and women disagree when it comes to saying how much of the housework they do. Whereas two-thirds of women say that in their relationship they usually or always do the cleaning, just half of the men who were questioned agreed with this. |
| One of the reports' authors, Professor Rosemary Crompton, said: "People's attitudes towards gender roles have clearly changed, but their behaviour lags behind. | One of the reports' authors, Professor Rosemary Crompton, said: "People's attitudes towards gender roles have clearly changed, but their behaviour lags behind. |
| "This is important - a gap between a person's views about gender roles and what actually happens in their own home seems to lead to greater stress at home, for women at least." | "This is important - a gap between a person's views about gender roles and what actually happens in their own home seems to lead to greater stress at home, for women at least." |
| Double standards | Double standards |
| There is a similar story of apparent double standards when it comes to attitudes towards the environment. | There is a similar story of apparent double standards when it comes to attitudes towards the environment. |
| Whereas eight in 10 people thought that current levels of car use have a "serious effect" on climate change, less than half (45%) are both willing to reduce their car use and able to do so. | Whereas eight in 10 people thought that current levels of car use have a "serious effect" on climate change, less than half (45%) are both willing to reduce their car use and able to do so. |
| BRITISHNESS 39% of people in England say they are "British""14% of Scots describe themselves as "British"46% of English natives say they are "equally English and British"21% of Scottish natives say they are "equally Scottish and British" | BRITISHNESS 39% of people in England say they are "British""14% of Scots describe themselves as "British"46% of English natives say they are "equally English and British"21% of Scottish natives say they are "equally Scottish and British" |
| Alison Parks said: "The fact that there is a gap between what people say and what they are actually willing to do is not hypocrisy. A lot of people are genuinely conflicted on what they should do. | Alison Parks said: "The fact that there is a gap between what people say and what they are actually willing to do is not hypocrisy. A lot of people are genuinely conflicted on what they should do. |
| "Rather, I believe that there are often factors that stand in the way of people's aspirations. | "Rather, I believe that there are often factors that stand in the way of people's aspirations. |
| "For instance, on reducing car use, it could be that inadequate public transport, or concerns about personal safety are discouraging people from catching the bus. | "For instance, on reducing car use, it could be that inadequate public transport, or concerns about personal safety are discouraging people from catching the bus. |
| "On housework, the UK has one of the longest working-hours culture in Europe - it could be that if we want men to help out around the house more, they need to spend less time at the office. | "On housework, the UK has one of the longest working-hours culture in Europe - it could be that if we want men to help out around the house more, they need to spend less time at the office. |
| "What we need to do is look at what is stopping people making that final step, and then come up with a way of encouraging them to take it." | "What we need to do is look at what is stopping people making that final step, and then come up with a way of encouraging them to take it." |
| Concern about the gap between those on high and low incomes remains high. | Concern about the gap between those on high and low incomes remains high. |
| A total of 34% of people surveyed wanted the government to raise taxes and redistribute income. This represents a fall from 47% in 1995. | A total of 34% of people surveyed wanted the government to raise taxes and redistribute income. This represents a fall from 47% in 1995. |
| Bucking the trend | Bucking the trend |
| If anything bucks the general trend suggested by the survey of a "more tolerant Britain" they are the twin issues of race and poverty. | If anything bucks the general trend suggested by the survey of a "more tolerant Britain" they are the twin issues of race and poverty. |
| One in four people now think that poverty is due to "laziness or lack of willpower" - up from one in five in 1986. | One in four people now think that poverty is due to "laziness or lack of willpower" - up from one in five in 1986. |
| And while prejudice against homosexuals has fallen, there has been an increase in the number of people (30%) who describe themselves as prejudiced against people of other races, compared to 2001 (25%). | And while prejudice against homosexuals has fallen, there has been an increase in the number of people (30%) who describe themselves as prejudiced against people of other races, compared to 2001 (25%). |
| The report's authors say the rise in racial prejudice "is likely to reflect the impact of events such as 9/11". | The report's authors say the rise in racial prejudice "is likely to reflect the impact of events such as 9/11". |