FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Little Ladies, Big Snorers
Patney reveal the biggest snorers in New Zealand are petite women
If you think the gendered stereotype that males are your ‘typical’ snorer, think again, because Patney can reveal their
latest survey data shows 61% of females are the snorers in their household.
Not only females but little ladies are the big snorers, with 31% of female sales from Patney going to little ladies
weighing under 70kg and less than 1.65m tall.
In contradiction to the stereotype of snoring being an ‘overweight male’, Patney’s latest survey data shows that 53% of
people snore because of their genetic makeup, followed by weight gain, menopause and post-child birth; perhaps
explaining why little ladies contribute to 31% of sales to females.
Founder of Patney, Waikato-based Frances Anderson, says: “We were pretty surprised to see petite women at the top of the
snoring charts. But, as a small, snoring woman myself, I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised! “
One 2007 study from the University of Surrey demonstrated that there is a gendered stereotype attached to snoring. The study found that women who snored were
embarrassed to admit it because they believed snoring was an unattractive and unfeminine problem.
Secondly, women dreaded their partner sharing this information outside of the confines of their relationship. And
finally, women who had a snoring partner would often make excuses for their partner’s snoring and downplay it,
prioritising their partner’s sleep over their own.
“The big question for us is of course whether the data is showing that women snore more than men, or whether they are
more prepared to do something about it and look for a solution. Either way, they are more prepared to address this
condition, which affects a significant percentage of Kiwis, often with serious effects.”
Many New Zealanders struggle with their own snoring or their partner’s. 40% of people would rather put up with their
partner’s snoring than sleep apart. For other couples, the problem is too great. 18% of people sleep separately from
their partner every night and 35% occasionally sleep separately.
Anderson says that the problem of snoring is exacerbated when couples are forced to sleep apart from each other. “The
snorer then feels abandoned and guilty,” explains Frances, “The next morning all parties are feeling irritable. After
purchasing a Patney, a man reported back to me saying ‘I enjoy spending time with my wife in the mornings now. She’s in
a happier mood. I can now get more sleep and have more energy the next day’”.
Read more www.patney.com
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