Young women reveal their ideal partner

Apr 29 2008 by Laura Wright, Western Mail

IF your name is James, you are hard-working, romantic, willing to commit and earn at least £25,000 a year, you are a very lucky man indeed.

A new survey out today suggests that you tick all the boxes when it comes to ideal man material, meaning you could be the most sought after person in the country.

The Young Women’s Relationship Survey also found that while women seem to know what they want, few are convinced that they will get it, with eight out of 10 worrying they will never find their soul mate.

While young women seem to be forever being criticised for their ladette behaviour, notching up sexual conquests and choosing career over a family until later in life, according to the research by More Magazine, all they really want is to be married by 25.

The relationship survey quizzed 2,400 young women to find out what young women really want from modern day relationships.

An overwhelming 88% of the women said what they wanted most from a relationship was a long-term commitment.

Nearly all young women (94%) envisaged getting married one day with a little more than half holding on to the traditional view that they would like to be married before having children, and 40% thinking that divorce is “too easy”.

Love, affection and romance come first with nearly 90% of women ranking it the most important aspect of a relationship, compared to sex.

And despite the trend for settling down at 30 or beyond, young women ideally think 25 is “the perfect age” to get married.

Singleton Hana Callard, 22, of Abergavenny, said: “I think 28 is the ideal age to get married because more women are career-minded now but 25 is too young.

“When I worked as a waitress we had weddings nearly every weekend and we all said how we wanted the big white traditional wedding. While we would hear that some of the marriages didn’t last, it’s nice that we all still had these ideals. I am of the view there is someone for everybody. I live in hope.”

Although by the age of 25, young women are looking for that life-long commitment, in their late teens and early 20s they play the field as much as men with only 36% believing that it is important to be in love with someone before you sleep with them.

By that age, the average woman has had five sexual partners, which more than half think is the “ideal number” to have before settling down.

Hana, a Cardiff University student, left, said: “I’m sure that the result showing young women wanting to settle down is true because biologically, and socially, that’s how we are brought up. But it doesn’t mean you can’t have a bit of fun before that happens. How do you know the man you settle down with is the right one if you haven’t had the experience of being in a relationship with any other men?”

When it comes to finding that perfect man, it’s the personality that counts.

A total of 90% of the women in the survey were most attracted by a man’s personality with looks taking second place at 63%, intelligence coming in at 39%, body at 27% and money last on the list with 6%.

Krysia Linter, 24, has been in a relationship with boyfriend Luke Batchelor, of Cardiff Bay, for four years.

She said: “It’s hard to categorise women, you can’t put them in a box and say that they all want one thing. Times have changed and there are so many choices nowadays that you don’t have to be married and settled down by a certain age.

“Nobody will judge you, it’s just a lifestyle choice.

“Obviously, I’d love to get married and one day I’ll have that day, but not yet. My partner isn’t like the ideal man in the survey. I think you’ll only know your perfect man when you meet him. You can’t possibly describe him before then.”

More deputy editor Chantelle Horton was a little surprised by how traditional and romantic the women were in the survey.

She said: “If you believed everything you read, they would all be out drinking all nights of the week and sleeping with a different bloke every week and it’s usually not true.

“They have their years of having fun, they’ve been partying since they were 16, they’ve been to university, they’ve been on a year travelling and get it all out of their system.

“But when it comes down to it, they want to meet someone fairly like the boy next door. He doesn’t have to earn an awful lot, he’s not a celebrity, they just want a decent guy which I think is quite nice.”

The results of the Young Women’s Relationship Survey 2008 are published in this week’s edition of More

The ideal man’s name:

1 James
2 Daniel/Dan/Danny
3 Ben
4 Matt
5 Mark
6 Chris
7 Jack

8 David/Dave
9 Josh/Joshua
10 John/Jon/Jonny

The ideal man’s job:

1 Fireman
2 Footballer
3 Lawyer
4 Doctor
5 Actor
6 Television producer
7 City banker
8 Vet
9 Accountant
10 Teacher

Top 10 pet names for him

1 Baby or Babe
2 Honeybun
3 Tiger
4 Sexy Bum
5 Deaf Ears
6 Misery Guts
7 Sausage
8 Snuggle Pops
9 Hot Rod
10 Dimples

Other favourites include: Poophead, Lobster, Mishymoo, Schnookums, Snuggle Bunny, Monster, Smellie Socks, Piglet and Chicken

Top 10 pet names for her

1 Princess
2 Baby or Babe
3 Angel
4 Boo
5 Honey Bunny
6 Doll
7 Sexy Bum
8 Snuggles
9 Peaches
10 Munchkin

Other favourites include: Kitten, Squeedgy-Bum, Chubbie Chops or Chunks, Krusty, Badger, Freckles, Baby Cakes and Bimble

What women really want...

The results showed:

76% of women have had their heart broken at least once;

The three best things about being in a relationship are companionship, security and affection;

65% of women say it is always them who makes the most effort in a relationship;

Only 37% of women have been bought flowers by their man;

63% of women have had a one-night stand;

Only 34% want a church wedding, with 31% preferring a hotel or castle, 15% wanting to go abroad and 6% dreaming of something “whacky” like eloping to Las Vegas or sailing off in a hot air balloon;

86% would not want a celebrity style wedding and 82% don’t want a celebrity style relationship.