Brits Neglecting Parents with Dads Being Left Out in the Cold

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Dads less popular than mums for a catch-up

Poor old dads, they can’t do right for doing wrong! They’re shunned for being ‘too manly’, but pestered as soon as shelves need putting up. This Father’s Day we’re urging Brits to show their dads some love and pick up the phone!

(PRWEB UK) 16 June 2012

Father’s Day may only be around the corner, but a new study has discovered that doting dads in the UK are being neglected by their children – in favour of ‘more approachable’ mums.

In a survey of over 2,000 people by Envirofone, the UK’s leading mobile phone recycler, 39 per cent of Brits admitted that they speak to their parents just once a month. Of those, more than a quarter stated that they only ever have regular contact with their mother. It seems that for most, calling your ‘parents’ really means a natter with your mum!

In fact, nearly 70 per cent of those asked said that they preferred to chat to their ma, with reasons such as ‘she’s more understanding’ and ‘she can hold a conversation better’ being given. For two per cent of the population, chats with mum are preferable to dad dialogue because ‘she’s a soft touch’.

Conversely, fathers are seen as ‘more judgemental’ and ‘less interested’ in their offsprings’ personal affairs, meaning they’re often given the ‘conversation cold shoulder’.

Although dads are definitely less popular than mums for a catch-up, Brits are straight on the blower to their old man if they have a question about DIY or electronics. More than five in 10 would always get in touch with their dad if they needed help with a practical task.

It also seems that gender defines who we’re predisposed to talk to. The ‘daddy’s girl’ cliché is alive and well, with an astonishing 78 per cent of women choosing to go to their father to ask for money or a favour. In contrast, nearly 8 in 10 men would ask their mother for the same thing, as they’d feel ‘embarrassed’ to ask their dad for dough.

Lucy Thompson, brand manager at Envirofone, said: “Poor old dads, they can’t do right for doing wrong! They’re shunned for being ‘too manly’, but pestered as soon as shelves need putting up. This Father’s Day we’re urging Brits to show their dads some love and pick up the phone!”

Media contact:
Eliza Christopherson or Alice Newsham at Peppermint PR
T: 0161 941 4252
E: eliza (at) peppermintpr (dot) com or alice (at) peppermintpr (dot) com

Notes to editors:

•     Top ten things that Brits call their fathers about:

1.    DIY problem/practical task     51 per cent
2.    A lift somewhere/’Dad’s taxi’ 17 per cent
3.    A favour                                 9 per cent
4.    Money                                     7 per cent
5.    Car trouble                             6 per cent                    
6.    Sports results                         4 per cent        
7.    Household bills                        >3 per cent
8.    To moan about mum             2 per cent
9.    Help recording a TV show     1 per cent
10.    Phone trouble.                         >1 per cent

•     Who would you rather ask for money, your mother or father?

Women: 78 per cent = father, 22 per cent = mother
Men: 24 per cent = father, 76 per cent = mother

•     Envirofone was launched in 2005 to provide real value to customers by recycling their electronic devices and helping protect the environment from the harmful toxins found in mobile phones and accessories.
•     For more information see http://www.envirofone.com.

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