Source: infografika RIA Novosti
The new study on the Ideal (Russian) Woman has been done in Mai 2008 by the analytical center of SuperJob.ru. Representative number of Russian man gave thier opinion on the female ideal. Interestingly a strong differentiation has been found between a wife and a girlfriend. The grafic shows the results in Russian, I will make a short English summary here:
Intellect (important: she should not show it off, but manipulate indirectly, in order not to hurt the man): girlfriend – 46%, wife – 29%
Looks (important: form of fingers and toes, nails, skin, hair, breast form, figure, lips, eyes, nose): girlfriend – 38%, wife -21%
Femininity (important: “she must be a woman, and not an ashtray in trousers”): girlfriend -12%, wife -5%
Understanding: girlfriend -5%, wife -9%
Kindness: girlfriend -20%, wife -14%
Patience: girlfriend -9%, wife -12%
Ability to love: girlfriend -5%, wife -17%
motherly instincts: girlfriend -5%, wife-7%
faithfulness (important – without jealousy): girlfriend -16%, wife-20%
housewife qualities (important: “she should cook like a Chinese cook”): girlfriend -9%, wife -20%
18% of men were rather puzzled by the question about the Ideal Woman. Their reaction was: “Love is the most important thing, for we anyway do not understand, what we actually love our women for.”
The results show, that female ideal of a Russian man should first of all be intelligent and beautiful, then kind and able to love. Status differences: a girlfriend should be more kind and charming, while a wife should be more patient, loving and faithful – and cook well 
I personally find the study results quite apt – the percentage given to the core values not only reflects the expectations on the Russian man about their women, but also explains well why Russian women are actually as they are (see my other post “What is so special about Russian Women?”).
LOVE; axinia
Bad Karma said,
August 2, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
I think an interesting quote I once read was by John Lennon talking about his Yoko Ono. When asked about their love, he said something like, “I always treated her more like a girlfriend than a wife.”
What 1000 Russian men told about their Ideal Woman « 1000petals said,
August 2, 2008 @ 8:10 pm
[...] The study was done in Mai 2008 by the analytical center of SuperJob.ru. Representative number of Russian men gave thier opinion on the female ideal. Interestingly a strong differentiation has been found between a wife and a girlfriend. The grafic shows the results in Russian, I`ve made a short English summary here on my Shaktipower blog. [...]
axinia said,
August 2, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
Bad Karma,
interesting input, thanks!
I have an experience of being both – a girlfriend and a wife. And if you want my conclusion:
a wife can be (and should be!) everything – a friend, a lover, a mother, a sister, a girlfriend, a daughter, just any female role.
a girlfreind can be anything but she can not be a wife. Something essential is missing.
An alien Earthling said,
August 3, 2008 @ 5:41 am
I wholeheartedly agree with the Russian men!!!
rw_man said,
August 3, 2008 @ 8:48 am
Very cool post Axina..
Always great to get a different perspective on how women are viewed.
GL
axinia said,
August 3, 2008 @ 8:59 am
GL,
you surprises me – do you mean your perspective if different? Another question – why dont you sart such a survery on your blog? – that would be sooooo much intresting…please!
Nita said,
August 4, 2008 @ 2:26 am
The results of this survey make me uncomfortable, as a woman. For example a man would prefer intelligence in a girl-friend, not their wife? And more men want a wife to be patient and understanding as compared to their girl-friend? And they would like to marry someone who would cook well? I think all this reeks of double standards, sorry Axinia.
axinia said,
August 4, 2008 @ 5:17 am
you are right, Nita, but that is what they say…This is how the Russian men are.
At least it was honest of them.
As you may have noticed, I was nowhere prasing Russian man
swaps said,
August 7, 2008 @ 6:33 am
I don’t get this. What this about ‘girl friend’ and ‘wife’ being different entities. I thought wife is official girl-friend. I mean why would anybody hang around with someone when you know she cannot be your wife??
I thought Russians were quite conservative. Mistake.
axinia said,
August 7, 2008 @ 7:11 am
“I mean why would anybody hang around with someone when you know she cannot be your wife??” – my friend, this is VERY common in the West
)
I have my personal experience in that too
You see, in the West people are looking for love, and ideally for love-marriage. The only problem is love along is not enough for a happy marriage!!!!!!! There are so many other factors that play the role here…So when people start dating and then living together, it is mostly for the love reason. But then they see that love is not enough, that they will not make a happy marriage with each other. Then they part or-mostly-keep living together, hoping to meet Mr./Ms RIght and then switch to him/her. That is the brutal reality…
So a man can have a girl-firend and still hope to marry somebody more suitable for a wife role. There is a joke which goes “why men prefer blod girls and marry brunettes? Because preffering and marring is not the same!”.
I have innumorous exaples from what I see around, in any country I lived so far.
Отец тепла said,
August 11, 2008 @ 11:21 am
Ухххххххххххх емае. Женщина должна предже всего оставаться сама собой, как уж её приняли и полюбили. А что там в ней видеть хотят, то и будут видеть, если любят!
radha said,
August 13, 2008 @ 2:25 am
so as per my understanding these women behave and are what they are firstly because of the image the men have of them? or because of the image themselves as women have of themselves? are the women in Russia very attached to everything a man say about them? after reading, this article inspired me these questions. CheerS! r
Melina said,
October 4, 2008 @ 11:32 pm
Very interesting post
annette said,
April 18, 2009 @ 10:30 pm
hy.!
i live in ontario ..i have recently met a russian man that lives in ontario with his wife .
he says that they have an open sexual relationship …
which is good for me cuz i get along realy good with him .
are russian men know to have girlfriends ..
and how could you love someone ..and make love to another
are is it not love are just the ideal of having a woman ..that the russian men like
if you have any opinion on this please let me know
thanks …
axinia said,
May 12, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
annette, what you describe seem to be rather atypical for a Russian man. I guess that is the “western” influence upon him. IN Russia, even if men have a liason ouside of marrige, they try to hide it and never tell thier wives about it!!
neese said,
October 20, 2009 @ 4:28 am
hi!
i am a black american but fairly conservative when it comes to relationships….my boyfriend is russian and so far he has been very gentlemanly and treats me with respect (which is very very rare in america) and for him all he asks of me is to try new things and understand his family dynamics(i am happy to oblige). we have a lot of fun and he smiles and blushes fairly often lol not at all the “russian” of the ‘Rocky’ movies lol. but i will end with this….the first thing he told my friend after meeting me was “wow she is so smart and pretty too, think she would want a relationship with a white guy?” sooo boom blow that study out the window haha. =D
axinia said,
October 20, 2009 @ 7:27 am
hi neese, really intresting comment, thanks!
I am gald to hear something positive about Russian men. At least some breaking of a stereotype!