Category: April 2012 FTM

And the survey says…

Thank you for your participation, mamas! In total the census was answered 91 times. Even allowing for a few duplicated answers, an impressive number of you responded! Without further ado, here are the results:

Question 1: How old are you now?

Unsurprisingly, 65% of you are between the ages of 26 and 34. In 2008 the average age of the first time mother was 25, with a higher percentage of babies being born to mothers aged 35 and older than to mothers in their teens. Those of you who feared you were in the significant minority at age 30 or higher, fear not; mamas over the age of 30 actually account for a whopping 45%. That is very nearly half of all respondents!

Results:
17 or under: 0 entries
18 – 21: 5 entries
22 – 25: 17 entries
26 – 29: 28 entries
30 – 34: 31 entries
35 – 39: 7 entries
40+: 3 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 2: How old were you when you lost your virginity?

According to the Kinsey Institute, the average age at which an American girl loses her virginity is 17.3 years. According to April FTM, that average is closer to being 16.3 years! 44% of you lost your virginity aged 16 or younger. In 2002, 46% of girls in the U.S. had had sex by the age of 19. Amongst April FTM, nearly 80% had had sex by the age of 19!

Results:
16 or under: 40 entries
17: 12 entries
18: 10 entries
19: 10 entries
20: 3 entries
21: 7 entries
22 – 25: 7 entries
25+: 2 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 3: What is your marital status?

Despite a record 4 in 10 births – 41% – being to unmarried mothers in the U.S. in 2008, 78% of April FTM are married. This percentage may actually be even higher, as we received 94 responses to this question, indicating that up to 3 of you ticked multiple boxes. An additional 9 mamas are in domestic partnerships; in other words, nearly 9 out of 10 births amongst April FTM were to mamas in committed relationships.

Editor’s Note: This question could have been worded better. It is, of course, quite possible to have been divorced but currently married, or to be single as a result of being widowed. Additionally, the idiot creator of this census forgot to include the option ‘in a relationship’. I’m actually surprised not more mamas opted for the eloquent description, ‘complicated’.

Results:
Single: 4 entries
Divorced: 3 entries
Domestic Partnership: 9 entries
Married: 74 entries
Widowed: 1 entries
Complicated: 3 entries
Total: 94 entries

Question 4: How did you conceive your baby?

4 in 10 births amongst April FTM were unplanned. 7 mamas – 8% of the total respondents – had medical assistance in conceiving their baby. That leaves a nicely even 50% of you whose conceptions were planned with no medical assistance. Of course, mamas whose babies were unplanned, but who were not actively preventing, fall into an admittedly murky category; perhaps ‘casually trying’ may have been a better descriptor?

Results:
Unplanned, but not preventing: 25 entries
Unplanned, actively preventing: 13 entries
Planned, no medical assistance: 46 entries
Planned, medical assistance: 7 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 5: What is your combined household income?

This is a tricky question. Do you answer with your gross household income, or your net household income? Do you include merely your wages and salaries, or do you also include unemployment insurance, disability payments, etc., as the U.S. government does when calculating the median household income?

Regardless, 71% of you consider yourselves to have a combined household income higher than the 2011 median U.S. household income of $50,502. A considerable third of you have a combined household income of greater than $100,000. Then again, we received 98 responses to this question, so a few of you may have been merely confused.

Editor’s Note: Those of you wishing to make a charitable contribution may write checks payable to Rachel S. – Thank you.

Results:
<$19,999: 4 entries
$20,000 – $29,999: 8 entries
$30,000 – $39,999: 4 entries
$40,000 – $49,999: 10 entries
$50,000 – $59,999: 9 entries
$60,000 – $69,999: 7 entries
$70,000 – $79,999: 7 entries
$80,000 – $89,999: 4 entries
$90,000 – $99,999: 8 entries
$100,000 – $149,999: 18 entries
$150,000+: 12 entries
Total: 98 entries

Question 6: Who earns more – you or your SO?

We have one mama who answered both ‘I earn more’ and ‘My SO earns more’. Regardless, a third – 34% – of April FTM earn more than their significant others. If you consider that a significant proportion of the mamas whose SOs earn more are likely SAHMs, then a far greater percentage of working mamas are earning more than their significant others. How many of us are also doing the lion’s share of housework and caring for our babies, I wonder?

As an aside, only one mama answered ‘I do not have an SO’, yet in a previous question four mamas considered themselves to be ‘single’. Perhaps due to that pesky lack of a ‘in a relationship’ answer?

Results:
I do: 31 entries
My SO does: 60 entries
I do not have an SO: 1 entries
Total: 92 entries

Question 7: Describe Your Religion:

In case you are curious, here are the original worded answers:

• Agnostic
• Jewish
• Roman Catholic
• Not really practicing anything specific… does humanism count?
• Christian; believe in God but don’t go to church.
• Christian; believe in God, attend church regularly.
• Christian; Protestant
• Spiritual, but not practicing. Baptized and confirmed Lutheran as a child and teenager.
• No religion – somewhat atheist
• Christian, Bible believing.
• Not religious, skeptic.
• I don’t have one.
• Catholic
• Christian
• Agnostic, but spiritual
• Christian
• Grew up with the family being Methodist but just went to church occasionally. Went with friends to all types of denominations. I want to start going back to church (Methodist) but DH only wants to go to his parents non-denominational church which meets in a school. I want LO to be in an established church. I’m willing to find other established churches if DH is willing.
• Secular traditionalist (earth based spirituality)
• Christian
• Inconclusive.
• Questioning
• Christian
• Non-Denominational Christian
• N/A
• I grew up Methodist but I am now no longer active in a church.
• Christian
• Methodist
• Jewish
• Believe in God and Jesus but don’t practice.
• Humanistic pantheist (pagan)
• Christian, but haven’t gone to church in a while.
• I am LDS.
• Non
• I was raised Pentecostal. Laying on of hands, speaking in tongues, the whole nine. Wasn’t for me. I haven’t been to church since I was 16.
• Catholic
• Christian – more spiritual than religious
• I believe in something.
• Christian
• Catholic
• Protestant: United Church of Canada, which is an amalgamation of Presbyterian and Methodist (been around since the 1920’s). Pretty much the most liberal Christian Church in Canada, and the first to wholeheartedly support same-sex marriage (yay!). Both of our ministers (one male, one female) are gay, with long-time partners. Rev. Norm and his Husband have two adopted daughters! I love being a member of such a forward-thinking and inclusive congregation!
• Atheist
• Believe in god, but don’t go to church
• Roman Catholic
• I need to find God again.
• Methodist
• Non-practicing Catholic
• Catholic
• Southern baptist
• Non-denominational Christian
• Open
• More spiritual, don’t attend church or follow a particular sect.
• Minimal
• Baptist
• Evangelical Christian
• Lutheran… but more on the Christian side. We don’t attend church regularly… Although I would love to bring LO to church, DF is Catholic (even though he hasn’t been to church in ages) and we can’t agree on how to raise her.
• Methodist
• Ex-mormon. I am a spiritual person, but do not subscribe to any particular religious philosophy. I do consider myself somewhat Christian, as in I believe the principles taught by Jesus, but I do not attend any Christian church. I love gay people and have to find a religion to accommodate that stance before I would ever consider attending church again.
• Christian (Mormon)
• Not religious. I do believe in being a good person and random acts of kindness.
• I don’t really have one.
• Christian – non-denominational
• Not religious
• Presbyterian.
• Christian
• Trying to become more actively involved
• Christianity
• Christian
• Catholic
• Catholic
• Christian
• We aren’t actively practicing any religion right now.
• Non denominational. DH is Catholic, and LO was baptized Catholic.
• Lutheran
• Catholic
• Christian
• Baptist. God loving. Christian.
• Christian
• Christian.
• Christianity – more Baptist style
• Christian
• Nothing specific. Agnostic?
• I am strong in my faith as a Christian, however, I am a VERY non-judgemental person and extremely open-minded, so you would probably never guess that I am a strong Christian. Do I go to church every Sunday? Nope. Honestly, I couldn’t tell you the last time I was in a church… probably for a wedding if I had to guess. Do I pray every day? Yes. Multiple times a day. I think that what it all boils down to it being a good person. I do believe in God, and I believe that Jesus died for us. If you don’t believe that… cool. Don’t try to change what I believe, and I won’t try to change what you believe. So I am definitely strong in my faith, but certainly not in the pushy, judge you for not believing the same thing, way. 🙂
• Non-denominational Christian
• Good question
• Lutheran
• Christianity with my own flaws
• Christian.
• Raised catholic, practice non denomination. Still observe some Catholicism
• Christian, Christ follower, live by the Bible, love everyone regardless of background, and try to get my strength from Christ!
• Roman Catholic, we believe in Virgin Mary, in confession, and that God is present in the host.
• Agnostic

Question 8: How many sexual partners have you had?

Firstly, we received 93 responses to this question, so at least one mama chose two answers. Dear mama: You’re not very good at math!

This question produced an interesting set of results, with the answers skewed towards either end of the scale; nearly 50% of you have either had just one partner, or ten or more. The other 50% of you were distributed fairly evenly between the remaining answers (2 to 9 sexual partners).

Results:
1: 18 entries
2: 4 entries
3: 7 entries
4: 6 entries
5: 8 entries
6: 5 entries
7: 8 entries
8: 4 entries
9: 5 entries
10+: 28 entries
Total: 93 entries

Question 9: Have you ever cheated on your SO, or been cheated on by your SO? This applies to your current relationship only!

Once again, the creator of this survey forgot to include an option for mamas currently not in relationships.

One confused mama selected two answers.

A naughty nine of you have cheated on your significant other! A saddening four of you have been cheated on – or suspect you have been cheated on. A further three of you have both cheated on, and been cheated on.

This question does not accommodate mamas in open relationships – for that, the creator apologises.

Results:
Neither of us have cheated: 76 entries
I have cheated: 9 entries
My SO has cheated: 3 entries
I suspect, but do not know, my SO has cheated: 1 entries
We have both cheated: 3 entries
Total: 92 entries

Question 10: Have you had any surgical enhancements?

A paltry two of you have had your bountiful bosom enhanced. One of you has had multiple enhancements. The vast majority of our April FTM have avoided the cosmetic surgeon’s knife.

US plastic surgery is enjoying a boom, despite the economy? From our April FTMs’ results, you wouldn’t know!

Results:
No: 88 entries
Yes – my bountiful breasts: 2 entries
Yes – my nose: 0 entries
Yes – botox: 0 entries
Yes – my luscious lips: 0 entries
Yes – my shapely behind: 0 entries
Yes – other: 0 entries
Yes – multiple above: 1 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 11: How solid is your relationship?

A rocking 83% of you are in a rock solid relationship! Rock on! Only one mama considers herself to be single. That leaves 15% of you who are uncertain as to the future of your relationship. To you I say, best wishes!

Results:
Rock solid: 76 entries
It’s new – I have no idea: 0 entries
Shaky – I can see us splitting up in the near future: 6 entries
It’s firm, but we may be separated in the distant future: 8 entries
I am not in a relationship: 1 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 12: Have you ever done an illegal drug?

Only a third of you have been good, law-abiding citizens when it comes to hallucinogenic substances. A second third of you have only tried marijuana, and the third third of you have tried various others.

Results:
No: 31 entries
No, but the drug is legal in my country, while being illegal in the US: 0 entries
Yes, marijuana: 31 entries
Yes, but not marijuana: 1 entries
Yes, marijuana and others: 28 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 13: Who did you vote for in the last U.S. election? If you did not or could not vote, who would you have voted for?

58% of you – a little over half, or nearly two thirds, depending on your perspective – did or would have voted for Barack Obama. The rest of you would have preferred to see Mr. Romney as president.

Results:
Barack Obama: 53 entries
Mitt Romney: 38 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 14: Pick one to describe your political affiliation (my apologies to our non-U.S. mamas!):

93 answers to this question. Considering that 55 mamas replied that they were of a liberal persuasion, but that only 53 mamas did or would have voted for Barack Obama, we may deduce that two mamas answered both ‘Democatic’ and ‘Other (Liberal)’. Essentially, just over half of you are of a liberal political persuasion.

Results:
Democrat: 26 entries
Republican: 28 entries
Other (Liberal): 29 entries
Other (Conservative): 10 entries
Total: 93 entries

Question 15: What is your stance on gay marriage?

77% – or three quarters – of you are for gay marriage!

Results:
I am FOR gay marriage: 70 entries
I am AGAINST gay marriage: 21 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 16: What is your stance on the legalisation of marijuana?

Seven out of ten of you support marijuana becoming legalised.

Results:
I am FOR legalisation: 63 entries
I am AGAINST legalisation: 28 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 17: Which answer best describes your opinion on abortion?

There were four main answers to this question, and April FTM were divided pretty evenly amongst them. Excluding the one mama who opted out of responding to the question, exactly 50% of you support a woman’s right to choose, regardless of your personal beliefs, and 50% of you are in favour of severely restricting a woman’s right to abortion, or abolishing it altogether.

Editor’s Note: It would have been interesting to see if/how mamas’ stances have changed since giving birth.

Results:
I support a woman’s right to choose: 25 entries
I find it distasteful and would encourage women not to have an abortion, but feel it should remain legal: 20 entries
I support it only for certain medical reasons and/or rape: 24 entries
I am not a supporter of abortion: 22 entries
I prefer to opt out of answering this question: 1 entries
Total: 91 entries

Question 18: Which answer best describes your stance on the death penalty?

In 2011, support of the death penalty in the U.S. fell to a record low of 62%. Funnily enough, 62% of our April FTM are in favour of the death penalty. Another 18% are sometimes tempted to support it upon reading the news.

Aside: In the U.K. and in Canada, where the death penalty was formally abolished in 1965 and 1976 respectively, roughly half the population is in favour of it.

Editor’s Note: As with the abortion question, it would have been interesting to see if/how mamas’ stances have changed since giving birth. Crime news seems to hit harder once you gain the empathy of a parent.

Results:
I support the death penalty: 57 entries
I do not support the death penalty: 12 entries
I do not support the death penalty, but my opinion waivers when I read some of the ghastly news stories: 16 entries
I prefer to not answer this question: 6 entries
Total: 91 entries