To wonder why so many women answered "don't know"

[rAvan]

I am studying politics, and I am particularly interested in different systems operating globally. I was surprised to learn that First past the post, the system we use in General elections is favoured by only one other country in Europe- Belarus.

Yougov conduct research on our electoral system and have been for some time. I was surprised by the gap between men and women's preferance on FPTP and PR, and I wanted to get individual opinions on your views about FPTP vs PR.

Usually cited pros of each:

FPTP- stops coalition governments, keeps extremists out
PR- seats more accuraccurately match votes, voters do not feel their vote is wasted due to safe seats.

I've added the men's one purely for comparison.

There are no wrong answers, I hope as many people as possible giving their opinion!

Were the people conducting the survery doing it outside supermarkets/town centres? If so, I bet thats were most of the 'don't know' answers came from. If I'm in hurry, or being constantly hassled by my children, my standard response to any question (especially 'What are we having for dinner?') is 'don't know'!

PR

FPTP means that you can have a Government that has been voted for by fewer than half of the people voting, even in a two party system. It discourages and stifles minority parties.

PR all the way! FPTP is archaic and broken!

VerticalHorizon

groundcontroltomontydon

It's yougov, according to which Sean Connery is the seventh most popular contemporary actor, so I'd take it with a pinch of salt.

Yesh!

😂😂😂

I would vote for FPTP. I do not believe that the case for change is made adequately, and I am not convinced that either FPTP or PR would be notably more beneficial than the other. Therefore, the status quo should take precedence.

@FuzzyPuffling

And also, stop with your misogynist nonsense about women not being well read and preferring fashion and reality TV.

Quite. I can't think of anything I am interested in less than those last two things. Same goes for pretty much all my female friends.

The question is being asked at a time where there is only one semi credible political party in the UK.

Labour are diabolical on women's rights and/or sending out a cohesive message. It is a non entity.

Right now, despite the efforts of the suffragettes, I wouldn't vote FPTP or PR.

If there were actually a valid choice PR all the way.

Perhaps it's just because men are more interested in politics than women. They're better informed about FPTP vs PR and are therefore more able to give a proper answer to the question.

@bumblingbovine49

People often forget we had a referendum on proportional representation during the conservative / lib dem coalition in 2011. 32% voted yes, barely 40% turnout

That is how much people care about the voting system we use. I despair

but that was not a referendum that offered PR, and it was also a referendum that was given little to no publicity (by design) and was tucked away with UK wide local elections.

@TangledUp789

Perhaps it's just because men are more interested in politics than women. They're better informed about FPTP vs PR and are therefore more able to give a proper answer to the question.

good little girl. you will get several head pats tonight from your menfolk.

Why should men care more about politics? What nonsense.

Every person who has a vote should ensure that they know what they are choosing.

Personal view

The different systems had very brief explanations. Unless there was more detail elsewhere.

Many people would not really know what it meant.

Men IME feel they have to have an opinion on everything. Even things they know sweet fa about. Plenty see not knowing something as a weakness. The many I've met who will not ask for directions even if horribly lost springs to mind.

Women do not tend to have that trait nearly so much.

I don't think it's more than that TBH

I don't think men especially care more about politics, but there is certainly a societal expectation of men to be knowledgable about such things (when often they are far from it).

Men are not particularly good at saying 'I don't understand'. They'll often take a view without researching things. In a sense 'I don't know' could be interpreted as being much more open and honest.