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Valentine's Day Survey Results

Smart girls decide for themselves.

May, 2002

In February, we asked about Valentine's Day and dream dates. 532 girls and 18 boys between the ages of 8 and 21 responded (average age 14.6 years). Respondents came from the following countries: United States (72%), United Kingdom (14%), Canada (7%), and the rest of the world (from Indonesia to India - 7%).

SmartGirl asked if you celebrated Valentines Day. Nearly 90 percent of you celebrate Valentine’s Day. See Table 1.1 for the results.

Table 1.1 Celebrate Valentine's Day?
Response	Frequency	Percent*
Yes	466	87
No	67	13

*Percentages based only on respondents who answered this question. 27 people didn’t respond to this question.

SmartGirl asked, “Do you have someone special this year for Valentine's Day (or any other day this month)? Forty-one percent of you had a special someone this February, while another twenty six percent were not sure at the time you took the survey.

SmartGirl asked about the status of the relationship with your Valentine or dream date.

Table 1.2 Status of Your Relationship with a Valentine or Dream Date?
Response	Frequency	Percent*
Dating	192	35
Just Friends	158	29
More than friends	129	24
Don't have anyone	40	7
Other	20	4
Family (e.g. already married)	4	1

*17 people didn’t respond to this question.

SmartGirl asked where you met your Valentine or dream date.

Table 1.3 Where Did You Meet Your Valentine Or Dream Date?
Response	Frequency	Percent*
School	259	48
Friends	72	13
Party	33	6
After School Activities	25	5
We've always known each other	20	4
Sports	19	4
Neighbor	13	2
Work	11	2
Mall	9	2
Dance	6	1
Camp	5	1
Walking the Dog	2	.5
Other	61	11..5

* 25 people didn’t answer this question

SmartGirl asked, “The first time my Valentine and I met...”

Table 1.4 The First Time We Met…
Response	Frequency	Percent
We started out as friends	226	40
I was interested in more that just friendship	108	19
It was love at first site	70	13
I wasn't attracted at all	70	13
We hated each other	22	4
Other	29	5
No Response	35	6

The largest proportion of you started out as friends (43%). Only 4% percent started with hate at first sight. Chart 1.2 shows the results graphically.

SmartGirl asked you choose three characteristics about your valentine or dream date from the following list. The percent represents the proportion of respondents who thought their valentine or dream date had the characteristic. The percents don’t add up to 100 because you could check more than one characteristic.

Table 1.5 Characteristics of Valentines
Response	Percent of respondents
Funny	66
Attractive	55
Caring	42
Smart	35
Understanding	29
Thoughtful	27
Supportive	22
Sensitive	20
Creative	17
Challenging	15
Encouraging	12
Nerdy	5

SmartGirl asked, “How do you feel about your Valentine or dream date?’

Table 1.6 How Do You Feel About Your Valentine?
Response	Frequency	Percent
Head over heels in love	200	36
I like them a lot	184	33
I'm not sure how I feel	77	14
I don't know why I like them, but I do	51	9
No Response	48	9

Over two thirds of you are “head over heels” or really liking your Valentines.

SmartGirl asked, “Does your Valentine or dream date know how you feel?”

Table 1.7 Does Your Valentine Or Dream Date Know How You Feel?
Response	Frequency	Percent
Yes	314	56
No	225	40
No Answer	21	4

Over 50 percent of you reported that your Valentine or dream date knows your feelings.

SmartGirl asked, “Your first attraction to your Valentine was....”

Table 1.8 First attracted by…
Response	Frequency	Percent
Personality	332	59.3
Face	150	26.8
Body	34	6.1
Friends	16	2.9
Money	3	0.5
Car	2	0.4
Neighborhood	1	0.2
Clothes	1	0.2
No Response	21	3.8

You are SmartGirls! Over half of you were most attracted by personality.

SMARTGIRL asked, “Would you ever ask your Valentine out on a date?”

Table 1.9 Would You Ask Out Your Valentine Or Dream Date?
Response	Frequency	Percent
Yes	342	61
No	197	35
No Answer	21	4

Over 60 percent of you said, “Yes!” See Chart 1.3 for a visual representation of the data.

`SmartGirl asked, "What would be the perfect gift from your Valentine or` `dream date?"`

SmartGirl asked, “What is your favorite part about Valentine's Day or any other special occasion that involves a significant other?”

Table 1.10 Favorite Part of Valentine's Day?
Response	Frequency	Percent
Being with someone you care about	299	53
It's romantic	124	22
I hate Valentine's Day and dates	36	6
Getting a gift	31	6
Getting a card in the mail	20	4
No response