Russian women consider cheap jewelry and sex toys to be the worst presents, according to a poll conducted by the web portal SuperJob ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8.
Poll participants chose the worst items from a list of possible gifts.
Of the 1,600 females who took part, 58 percent called inexpensive jewelry a bad gift idea. “A March 8th present should appeal to the tastes of the person to whom it will be given, not the tastes of the giver,” one respondent said.
Items sold in sex shops are also out of bounds. Forty-two percent of those polled said they would not want to receive a sex toy. “It’s vulgar!” one woman said.
Third in the anti-rating of presents is a parachute jump gift certificate, which would upset 41 percent of respondents.
Somewhat less unacceptable were souvenirs and figurines (38 percents opposed the idea), household appliances and kitchenware (18 percent), lingerie (13 percent) and a gym membership (12 percent).
Several women said they would be glad to receive any of the items on the list, SuperJob said.
A majority of Russians plan to buy gifts on International Women’s Day, according to a survey held by the web portal Romir in late February. Of the 1,000 men and women who were polled, 95 and 90 percent respectively said they would buy presents.
On average, men will spend about 3,500 rubles ($118.5) on presents for their female relatives and friends. Women plan to spend about 2,300 rubles.
