It’s just launched just revealed their stats for Valentine’s Day Myths. If men get a bad rap for lacking romance and imagination on Valentine’s Day, it’s not because they shy away from Cupid by nature, an It’s Just Lunch 2011 Dating Trends survey suggests. Asked about their No. 1 priority in 2011, 42 percent of male respondents said finding a compatible mate tops their list. That’s significantly higher than the percentage who ranked career as their top priority, suggesting men might work at least as hard building relationships as they do building résumés. Though men seek compatible matches and are open to love, they seem to think Cupid will do all the work. Nearly 35 percent said they spend zero hours per week — or no time whatsoever — looking for dates, according to the survey.
What’s more, men are more likely this time of year to avoid relationships and dating altogether because of pressures brought on by Valentine’s Day, the survey revealed. A third of single men said they avoid being coupled between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, perhaps because of perceived threats to their egos and wallets. That’s too bad because women’s expectations are neither high nor mysterious. “Women do attach significance to Valentine’s Day, but that shouldn’t strike fear into the hearts of men,” says It’s Just Lunch spokesperson, Irene LaCota. Dinner at a nice restaurant makes for the perfect date on Valentine’s Day for 47 percent of women surveyed, and 40 percent would prefer making dinner together at home.
As for gifts, over a third consider flowers and a card the best tokens of affection, followed by a spa package (29 percent) and jewelry (27 percent). Forty percent of women do not expect a gift unless she and her guy are in a committed relationship; however, a full 40 percent do expect a gift after three months of dating. After just two weeks, only 4 percent expect to receive something, according to IJL data. Looks like single women don’t require as much as men tend to think in order to feel special.
Other key findings from the It’s Just Lunch dating trends survey:
42 percent of men said finding a compatible match was their No. 1 priority for 2011, compared to 24 percent who ranked career as their top priority. Next came “go out on more dates” (12 percent), health (12 percent) and finances (10 percent).
A greater number of single women than men spend zero hours per week looking for dates — 46 percent compared to 34 percent. Men and women alike believe friends and family are the best means of finding compatible matches, followed by a dating service. Men were more likely to think a bar vs. the gym is better for meeting dates.
One-fifth of single men would rather look for dates than pursue hobbies in their spare time, vs. 14 percent of women. Both men and women are fairly open to going on a date with someone they meet on a social networking site such as Facebook or Twitter (56 percent and 34 percent, respectively); however, only 13 percent of men and 9 percent of women have ever actually done so.
One-fourth of women always “Google” a date before meeting him for the first time, while 14 percent of men always Google their dates. Women are twice as likely as men to cancel the date without discussion should their Internet sleuthing turn up something odd.
Forty-one percent of men think it’s too corny to schedule a first date on Valentine’s Day, whereas 62 percent of women said, “Sure, why not?” and would accept a first date on Feb. 14.
Only 4 percent of women put a box of chocolates on their list of ideal Valentine’s Day gifts. They perceive chocolates as a last-minute gift idea — impersonal and not particularly thoughtful. Flowers, on the other hand, are the ideal gift for over a third of single women. Lingerie is another poor choice — only 8 percent of women consider sexy underthings a great Valentine’s Day gift.
