sexist market researcher

[pixiemoon]

Male Researcher: What is your marital status: single, married, seperated, divorced or widowed?

Me: Well we cohabit, I'm not single, but we don't believe in getting married

Researcher: Well we'll put down single then. And who is the chief income earner in your house?

Me: To be honest our salaries are near identical, our incomes are equal

Researcher: Well then lets put down your other half as he's the male partner.....

WTF? I know he's ticking boxes. But FFS my relationship isn't recognised, yet OH gets recognised as 'chief income earner' because whilst our incomes are the same, he has a willy?? Whats that about??

I am

I would complain (I like complaining though )

they didn't have 'co-habiting' as an option?

was it for something interesting?

hey bling, not long now!

Was his form (and attitude) from the 1950's?

I suppose the first thing about your status is fair enough but the one about your income - I don;t think so! I would complain.

Don't blame the market researcher! He'll be using a form developed by research executives at his office. (And probably have been told to tick the man in equal salary situation).

I would find out which company he worked for, give them a call and suggest that they include an option for 'equal salary earned'. They would probably welcome the feedback.

As for the marital status - there is still no official recognition for co-habiting in this country, so he was right to tick single (however ridiculous this seems. And it certainly does seem ridiculous.)

MadWoman! I know, four weeks!!!?!? Had hen party on weekend - was fabulous! We leave in two weeks - can't wait for the sun!
How go the plans for Canada?

• flying for visit on 11 feb, visiting canadian school on 23 feb... decision still pending...

flying in two weeks? you'll be in the sunshine when we're in the snow lol!

It was some telephone research asking my opinion on the quality of television programmes (I think it was channel 4/S4C). To be honest I was a bit stunned and just answered the questions about OH's work. Didn't get the name of the company. Otherwise I think I would complain.

I'm glad it's not just me that thought it was pretty out of order though!

I realise cohabiting isn't legally recognised or anything but I'd expect it to be a 'demographic' for the researchers. Wonder what the poor man would have done if I was cohabiting with gasp A WOMAN! I note in hindsight that civil partnership wasn't on his little list either.

gets off liberal high horse

I find it annoying that Market Researchers call and ask for DH when the tenancy and all of the bills here are in my name, and I am the one who actually goes and pays these bills!

Just goes to show that market research is a pointless load of old tosh. They ask the questions they want to ask and tick the boxes they want to tick to get the answers they want to get.

Good luck! Enjoy the snow - they do it well apparently! Hope the school thing works out!