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Now available for preorder:
The San Francisco Panorama.
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- - - - KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- They trust each other with their most personal thoughts...They can finish each other's sentences...They talk about things they don't tell the men in their lives... They are girlfriends. And according to a nationwide "Girlfriend Survey" just released by Hallmark Cards, girlfriends are an integral part of women's lives. To coincide with the launch of a new line of cards, Hallmark Fresh Ink, the survey explored the world of women and their girlfriends by polling 507 women age 18-39. They were asked everything from how they met and what qualities make a good girlfriend, to which celebrity they think would make the most interesting girlfriend. What girlfriends talk about ... and what they don't From the most personal information -- suspecting they are pregnant (89%) -- to the more mundane -- they've found a great new place to shop (92%) -- girlfriends share nearly everything. They know each other so well that 81 percent of them can finish the other's sentences. The majority of women surveyed are more comfortable talking with their girlfriends than with their guy friends about such things as shopping, their health, their family, and anxieties about work or school. Other topics high on the list of "for girlfriends only" included sharing that a married man expressed interest in them (70%), learning gossip about a girlfriend (58%), and bouncing a check (49%). Slightly fewer than half of those surveyed (45%) said they had shared something with a girlfriend that they did not tell the man in their life. Potentially divisive topics were on the list of things girlfriends rarely talk about -- most likely because they want to spare each other's feelings. Of the women surveyed, only 40 percent said they would tell their best girlfriend that she's wearing an unflattering outfit; even fewer would tell her that they've noticed she's gained weight (23%). Money and kids are also touchy subjects. Only 22 percent of respondents would remind a girlfriend that she still owes the $20 she borrowed last month. A mere 20 percent would tell a girlfriend that they disagree with how she disciplined her child. The "Life Status" Gap Although nearly all (99%) expect their best girlfriend to still be their best girlfriend 10 years from now, what girlfriends share changes over time ... especially if they get married or have a child: Single women tend to talk about themselves, while women who are parents tend to talk about their children. Younger women are more willing to talk about sex and gossip than older women. Women 18 to 34 are more likely than women 35 to 39 to share news about: -- Gossip learned about a best girlfriend (64% vs. 48%) -- Bouncing a check (51% vs. 43%) -- Being upset at a girlfriend's spouse or boyfriend (48% vs. 38%) -- Complaints about sex life (48% vs. 33%) No matter life status, girlfriends are trustworthy. Trust dominates the list of qualities considered important to have in a girlfriend, followed by loyalty, a sense of humor, and being a good listener. The majority of women surveyed contact their girlfriends daily (52%), while 37% keep in touch once a week. Rosie "most interesting"; Monica and Rachel "most real" Given four celebrities to choose from, respondents most often named Rosie O'Donnell as the celebrity they think would make the most interesting girlfriend. When asked why, women said: "She's down to earth," "She does real-life things," and "She seems like she would be there for her friends." Julia Roberts was second overall, but was first among women 18-34. (Women 35-39 preferred Rosie.) Survey respondents were also asked to name the TV show girlfriends who have the most in common with their "real life" girlfriend relationships. Of four pairs to choose from, Monica and Rachel from "Friends" came out on top. Helping girlfriends say something "real" Real life girlfriends share a lot, and Hallmark research has shown they want cards that speak in their language and express their own sense of personal style. With a new line of cards that are smart, witty, and unexpected, Hallmark helps girlfriends recognize such everyday situations as growing out their bangs or dumping their boyfriend. The cards, called Hallmark Fresh Ink, "talk" the way girlfriends talk, about the things they talk about, in a way that says something "real." Priced from $1.95 to $2.95, the approximately 480-card line is available by the end of June wherever Hallmark cards are sold. "Hallmark Fresh Ink perfectly captures the way girlfriends see the world, themselves, and each other," says Christine Overgard, marketing manager, Hallmark New Card Programs. "One of the women surveyed said, 'A girlfriend is someone who considers you on special occasions...someone who remembers you.' And that is what this new card line is all about -- helping young women communicate with each other in a real way," Christine adds. "Now, with Hallmark Fresh Ink, they can walk into a Hallmark store and say, 'That's me...That card says something I would really say.'" SOURCE Hallmark Corporate Media
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