APPENDIX
Results of a British Institute of Public opinion
FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY
Survey completed on Sept. 20. 1942
.
The following results have been supplied to the Home Intelligence Division. The Survey was
not
sponsored by the Division, but the results this month are of considerable interest, as they are concerned with matters which have been prominent in our Weekly Reports over the last month.
1.
Women's fire-watching
Q: “Do you think that women should be compelled to do fire-watching at night on business premises?”
Yes
Yes (with provision)
Total saying Yes
No
Dont know
%
%
%
%
%
Total
22
20
42
53
5
Men
23
18
41
53
6
Women
21
23
44
52
4
Age groups
21 - 29
27
22
49
48
3
30 - 49
21
22
43
52
5
50 and over
21
18
39
55
6
Economic groups
Upper
31
23
54
44
2
Middle
20
25
45
50
5
Lower
22
19
41
54
5
Comments
1. Roughly 4 out of 10 are in favour and 5 out of 10 are opposed to compulsory fire-watching for women.
2. There is surprisingly little difference between the attitudes of men and women.
3. Groups showing the highest proportions in favour are young people and the upper income group.
4. The provisos mentioned, in order of occurrence, were:-
a. Provided women can stand it physically and have no home ties.
b. Provided there is proper accommodation.
c. Provided all available men are called on first.
d. Provided they work with men.
e. Provided they do not have to watch in target areas.
f. Provided their compensation for injury is the same as that given to men.
5. Comments among those who thought women should not be compelled to fire-watch included the following:-
a. Many men are shirking, and if all of them are used it will not be necessary to use women.
b. (Chiefly among men) “Fire-watching is no job for women.”
c. (Among women) “I would not like to have to do it”.
2.
The Fuel Target
Q: “Have you worked out your fuel target?”
Yes
No
%
%
Total
16
84
Men
18
82
Women
14
86
Housewives
16
84
Age groups
21 - 29
12
88
30 - 49
16
84
50 and over
18
82
Economic groups
Upper
32
68
Middle
22
78
Lower
13
87
Comments
Roughly 3 people in every 20 had worked out their targets.
The highest figures were in the upper and middle social groups, and the lowest among the young, and the poorer economic group. This result is partly explained by the fact that many of the poor consider that they are already being as economical as possible.
Many people complained that they found the calculations extremely difficult.
A subsidiary question was: “Have you thought of ways to save fuel in your home?”
Could not mention any ways:
41%
Already on bare minimum:
15%
Being careful generally:
14%
Specific ways mentioned:
30%
Heating
Use fewer fires: Live in one room: have fewer baths: keep cinders to use again with small coal: put coke and cinders in tins and burn them: burn all refuse.
Light
:
Use less powerful bulbs: remove bulbs from some rooms: have a fine box for leaving lights on.
Other suggestions
:
Exchange visits with neighbours: go to bed early: listen to radio in the dark.
3.
Part-time war work
Q: “Would anyone in your family be willing to do part-time paid war work if it could be arranged?
Yes
No
%
%
Total
27
73
Economic groups
Upper
22
78
Middle
28
72
Lower
27
73
Comments
1. Enquiries as to the sex of the person who would be willing showed that:-
Every 4th family contains a willing woman
Every 12th family contains a willing man
2. Breakdowns other than those given above show no significant differences.
4.
War Savings Campaign
Q: “Do you belong to a National Savings Group?”
Yes
No
Object
%
%
%
Total
55
42
3
Men
51
45
4
Women
59
39
2
Age groups
21 - 29
62
36
2
30 - 49
59
38
3
50 and over
48
48
4
Economic groups
Upper
60
37
3
Middle
60
37
3
Lower
52
45
3
Comments
.
1. More women than men, more young people than old, and more of the upper and middle economic groups belong to a National Savings Group.
2. Many of those who did not belong said they preferred to put their money into the Post Office Savings Bank.
5.
Duration of the War
Q: “How long do you think the war will last from now?”
Men
Women
TOTAL
June 1942
Dec. 1941
Jan. 1941
%
%
%
%
%
%
6 months
7
9
8
11
5
7
1 year
25
25
25
28
15
23
18 months
16
15
15
22
13
8
2 years
25
23
24
21
29
18
3 years
11
9
10
7
18
8
Longer
10
9
9
5
16
7
Don't know
6
10
9
6
4
29
Comments
1. In December 1941, the average expectation was just over 2 years. In June 1942, it was about 18 months. In September 1942, it was about 19 months.
2. It appears that as time moves on, so people push forward their expectation of the end of the war.
