Anxiety about economic survival and a high valuing of male friendship rate strongly in a survey of Irish men, writes Ian McShane
LAST YEAR'S Irish Times/ Behaviour Attitudes Social Poll took a detailed look at the world of Irish women from a behavioural, attitudinal and psycho-social perspective. The results of the survey were received enthusiastically by the general public, as well as by social commentators and academics specialising in gender-related issues. Indeed, dozens of individuals suggested to Behaviour Attitudes that a corresponding social poll exploring the world of the Irish male should be conducted, given the perceived dearth of research conducted among this segment of the population.
Over the next three days the results of this poll, based upon a representative sample of 1,000 Irish males aged 18 years plus, are analysed from a range of perspectives. Today, we explore the role of career and finance in the male's life, within the broader sociological context.
Tomorrow, coverage of the poll extends to a treatment of relationships and sex.
Finally, the weekend edition of The Irish Times will focus on the male from the point of view of his social attitudes.
One of the first questions posed in the poll related to the degree to which men are concerned about a whole range of social issues.
The main graphic on the opposite page sets down the issues measured, ranked in order of concern. Perhaps not surprisingly, given the rate of economic decline at home and abroad over the past few months, day-to-day living expenses emerges as the single issue of greatest concern to men.
Closer analysis of the data reveals that concern in relation to day-to-day subsistence peaks among males aged 25-44 years, that segment of the population that tends in general to be under greatest financial pressure whether it be due to the cost of making it on to the property ladder, higher interest rates, childcare and education costs, etc.
By way of background, the Behaviour Attitudes Consumer Confidence Monitor, produced on a quarterly basis since 2002, indicates that confidence in the economy reached an all-time low in July of this year (when the last wave of interviewing was conducted). On a confidence rating scale ranging from plus 100 (complete confidence in the economy for the year ahead) to minus 100 (complete lack of confidence in the economy), July's confidence rating among men dropped from minus 48 in April to minus 71 in July. The corresponding July figure for women was minus 62, the first time that men have been more pessimistic than women about the future economic outlook.
While people's concern with their capacity to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis may have been predictable given the current economic climate, it is, to my mind, remarkable that almost as many men are concerned about levels of crime in Ireland today, with 62 per cent of them claiming to be extremely or very concerned/worried in this regard.
The fact that just under one-third are wary of their own personal security would suggest that worries about crime for today's men are more to do with a fear of their loved ones being victims of crime, than they themselves.
Over the last 10 years or so, the great majority of opinion polls conducted in Ireland will have identified dissatisfaction with the health service as the number one concern. The fact that men are now more preoccupied with levels of crime than they are with the health service in overall terms speaks volumes of the extent to which An Garda Síochána and/or the judicial system are seen to be struggling to deal with the situation. Further insight into the psyche of men in Ireland today can be gleaned from Figure I (right), which ranks a range of aspects in terms of how important the Irish male perceives them to be in his life today. In line with the key concerns already identified, it can be seen that financial independence and the capacity to look after himself are by far the issues of greatest importance.
As we head towards more straitened economic times, personal relationships, whether that be with wife/girlfriend or indeed male friends, are also identified as a top priority. Curiously, a full 93 per cent of Irish men aged 18-24 years tell us that their male friends are important to them in their lives today - an interesting statistic given the prevailing wisdom that young men find it difficult to share their feelings with each other at times of personal crisis.
Notwithstanding these fears and concerns, however, we should not lose sight of the fact that the great majority of men (ie 85 per cent plus) are satisfied with their life as a whole, their home life, and indeed the state of their general health.
Figure II (below) again reveals lower levels of satisfaction, as indicated throughout the survey, in relation to respondents' general financial security, including considerable worries with regard to job security.
Indeed, all of the survey questions relating to men's confidence in the economy consistently reveal a core grouping, equating to approximately one-third of all adult Irish males, whose financial outlook is fundamentally bleak.
With a view to better understanding this segment of the male population, we can identify that by far the lowest levels of job security, ease of making ends meet, and even pension ownership emerge among those who are employed in the building/construction, manufacturing and non-professional services (including retail) sectors.
For example, with an average monthly disposable income of just under €400, a majority (51 per cent) of men working in the building/construction sector admit they are finding it difficult to make ends meet, with over one-third insecure in their jobs. While the average monthly disposable income of male civil servants is only marginally higher (€485), 94 per cent of them at least feel secure in their jobs.
While one-third of all men may have registered a pessimistic view of the current financial climate in Ireland, it also emerges that a similar proportion (34 per cent) claim they may decide not to work in Ireland all of their lives anyhow. Indeed, the proportion of young Irish males aged 18-34 years who indicate they do intend to work in Ireland throughout their working career stands at just 55 per cent - a bare majority.
Undoubtedly, the worsening economic situation has had a significant impact on the mindset of these individuals, as they begin to consider opportunities abroad now that we seem to be heading inexorably towards all-out recession.
Incidentally, approximately one in eight of all Irish male adults indicated that, if they had a free choice, they would rather live in Australia than Ireland (rising to 21 per cent of those employed in manufacturing!) A further 11 per cent stated they would prefer to live in continental Europe, while another one in 10 of all Irish males tells us they would ideally like to live in the US or Canada.
While some of these are foreign nationals considering a return to their country of birth, the great majority are in fact Irish-born.
Undoubtedly, the last 12 months of doom and gloom have had an effect on the Irish male's perspective on life. If the results of this poll are borne out, we can expect to see significant numbers of men emigrating throughout 2009 and 2010, as workers refuse to cede the financial advances they have made over the course of the last 10 years, seeking a brighter future elsewhere.
• Ian McShane is managing director of Behaviour Attitudes