Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 26, 1990                   TAG: 9004260346
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Medium

MEN TOLD: YOU'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO, BABY

The Roper Organization poll found growing numbers of women expressing sensitivity to sexism and unhappiness with men on many issues. It compared data from identical questions asked 20 years ago.

Some of the changes were sizable. In 1970, for example, two-thirds of women agreed that "most men are basically kind, gentle and thoughtful." In the new poll, only half of the 3,000 women who were surveyed agreed.

The reason? "Women's growing dissatisfaction with men is undoubtedly derived from their own rising expectations," the survey's authors said. "The more independent women of today expect more from men."

Those expectations apparently are going unfulfilled. Most women rated men negatively on their egos, libidos and domesticity. Sizable minorities went further: 42 percent, for instance, called men "basically selfish and self-centered."

Prurience took a particular pounding. Fifty-four percent of the women who were surveyed agreed that "most men look at a woman and immediately think how it would be to go to bed with her." In 1970, 41 percent had agreed.

The survey, financed by Philip Morris USA in the name of its Virginia Slims cigarettes, was conducted July 22 through Aug. 12 by in-person interviews with a random sample of women across the country. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points.

Respondents overwhelmingly said women have made progress in obtaining job opportunities, equitable salaries and acceptance as political leaders. But they also expressed greater awareness of continuing discrimination.

Moreover, six in 10 working women said juggling jobs and families put them under "a lot of stress," and nearly as many felt guilty about time they spend at work and away from their families.

"Their frustration comes out of trying to be superwomen," said Ellen Merlo, a Philip Morris vice president. "Women are handling so many aspects of life - trying to achieve success in careers, wanting to be a wife and a mother, run a home, and do it all well. It's a lot for anyone to handle."

Because men traditionally have escaped most household and child-rearing duties, Merlo said, "The frustration is expressed in hostility toward men. Women are looking to men for more support. And definitely their attitude toward men has turned somewhat sour."

The second-greatest cause of resentment in survey respondents' lives was their mates' failure to help with household chores, cited by 52 percent. Only money was a greater cause of woe.

"As women contribute more to family income, they expect a more equitable division of the household responsibilities in return," the survey said. While many men acknowledge responsibility for household work, it added, "Women indicate that men are failing to live up to this ideal, and that their failure is a major source of irritation."

But diapers and dishes are by no means the sole problem: Many women in the survey expressed negative views of men's attitudes as well as their behavior. Among the findings:

Fifty-eight percent of women agreed that "most men think only their own opinions about the world are important." That was up from 50 percent in 1970.

Given the statement, "Most men find it necessary for their egos to keep women down," 55 percent agreed, up from 49 percent 20 years ago.

Fifty-three percent agreed that "most men are interested in their work and life outside the home and don't pay much attention to things going on at home." That was up from 39 percent in 1970.

The poll found similar increases in sensitivity to sexism. Fifty-three percent said they were annoyed by "jokes about women drivers, mothers-in-law or dumb blondes," up from 32 percent in 1970. Sixty-one percent were annoyed by pictures of nude women in men's magazines, up from 43 percent.

Eighty percent resented a woman being looked upon "as sex symbol instead of as having sense in her head," up from 66 percent in 1970. And 53 percent were annoyed by men referring to them as a "girl" rather than a "woman." In 1970, just 31 percent of the women objected.

All men's failings aside, the poll indicated they must have some redeeming factors: More than nine in 10 women said marriage is better than living alone.