A recent survey found that most males prefer leaving the job of buying their boxers to their partners. What does this tell us about the state of modern relationships? Our top writers decide whether it’s high time to let the men find their own way in the underwear department.

SIMONE KENNY . . . says let them buy their own — getting in touch with their inner shopper could be a good thing

The recent survey by Debenhams that showed men only buy their own briefs for 17 years of their life (with mothers and partners buying them the rest of the time) surprised me, and then again, it didn't.

Let me explain: considering that men have a track record for getting more than one day out of a single pair of jocks and also taking into account that they will wear them until they are hanging on by a thread (this I know from personal experience) -- it's unsurprising that they only buy them for 17 years on average -- it just means they buy less but have them longer because they milk them for all they're worth.

On the other hand, I was surprised that in this day and age, with women working and raising children (as well as husbands it seems) they are still undertaking the traditional task of buying their briefs. Had this been 40 years ago it would be understandable, given the tradition of the man working while the woman looked after, well, everything else -- but in 2009?

My own experience of men's brief-buying is, well, brief. I once bought himself some from Penneys and in return got an earful, because they were from Penneys (yes, he's a jock snob). Granted they were a size too small and could have prevented us from having children but surely the thought counts? Now it's Valentine's novelty g-strings all the way.

A straw poll of some girlfriends showed that, yes indeed, they regularly purchase their other half's keks and the reasoning behind this was that they are the primary shoppers in the household, therefore, they simply throw underwear on the shopping list -- no big deal.

But I wonder, if we're still performing this seemingly harmless (and thankless) task, what are our other halves doing in return? Are they taking out the bins, doing DIY, opening doors and giving seats up in an equally traditional and chivalrous manner?

Nope. So are us 21st century women getting a raw deal in the jock-buying stakes? Yes, which is why I think that this female pants-buying points to a larger issue than just women's penchant for shopping.

There's no fear of a man popping into the chemist for something to ease their indigestion and picking up a heated lavender cushion to ease your period cramps -- they're just not that thoughtful.

However, maybe if we made them think for themselves, say, by letting them decide when they need new jocks, and then actually going ahead and purchasing them, they might -- just might -- consider doing the little things for us women. Okay, this may be wishful thinking but we have to start somewhere, right? Down with pants buying, I say.

KATIE BYRNE . . . says I’ll buy the smalls because it’s not a big thing — and then I get to choose the style

Men buy their own briefs for 17 whole years of their lives? That's a gallant effort, as far as I'm concerned: I thought it was more like 17 months.

This is a British survey, of course. We, on the other hand, live in Ireland, where the Irish Mammy (initially his mother; later his wife) spoils her son/husband in perpetuity.

I asked a male friend about this survey. "Would you expect your girlfriend to buy your underwear?"

"No way," he countered indignantly "my mother does that."

Female partners take over the role of mother. In relationships, men offer only romantic love; women offer maternal love too. We cosset our men, and like the men who allow themselves to be cosseted, we do so willingly. It's a symbiotic relationship.

Of course, what lies beneath this study might be a whole lot simpler -- 36 is also the age when a man starts pairing thick woollen socks with open-toe sandals and tucking his shirt into his trousers, despite the second trimester-like paunch which blurs the boundaries between the two garments.

In short, they start to care a lot less about the difference between low-rise and tanga. More to the point, most men just don't like shopping, in particular when it's for mundane items. And really, what man under 19 or over 36 is going to start throwing style curve balls with his choice of underwear?

I say kudos to men for being less swayed by the seductive spell of commercialism. In a relationship, there should only be one partner stupid enough to spend €26 on a pair of designer boxer shorts (and take 35 minutes to arrive at the decision of buying them) and that eejit will be me, thank you very much.

It's well observed by marketing people that after marriage, women become the primary consumers. Studies show that Irish women make 80pc of household consumer decisions. That statistic isn't the result of duty, it's the result of preference.

It makes you wonder who those David Beckham Calvin Klein ads are really geared towards. We end up mothering our male partners because we want to; ergo, it's a commercial fact that, after a certain age, we start buying their underwear too.

Yes, it's a throwback to our parents' generation; yes, it's a kick in the face to feminism, but it's the way of the world because it works. So yes, when my partner reaches 36, I will happily buy his boxers. (Note: boxers, not briefs -- requests for the latter will be received with an immediate termination of contract.)

In fact, I'll probably buy his socks and his shirts and his shoes too, so long as he fulfils my obligations. I believe in designated gender roles in relationships. If I agree to cook, clean (read: hire a cleaner) and buy his boxers; I expect bins to be taken out, plugs to be wired and furniture to be moved. Man tasks, if you will (forgive me, feminist movement, for I have sinned).

Besides, I'm sure we'd discover similar findings with an alternative female-led survey. "Women check oil level in their own car for 10 years of their lives" or "wives unclog blocked sinks three times in a lifetime". At least, that's the way it should be: quid pro quo.

- Simone Kenny