The VRT has published the research behind its Photo of Flanders survey following a debate over the results, particularly regarding possible conclusions about the attitudes of people of foreign origin.
Culture
Full Foto van Vlaanderen study published after debate over demographic data
Joris Truyts
Published:
Foto van Vlaanderen is a survey that VRT has been conducting since 2009. It provides an insight into what matters to Flemish people, with a focus on social issues. Topics include happiness, diversity, purchasing power and safety.
The fieldwork is carried out by the independent research agency Profacts. A representative sample – gender, age, education, province – of 2,261 people in Flanders aged 12 and over was used.
The study found that a striking number of young men hold conservative views on issues such as LGBTQIA+ people or the division of roles between men and women. The question of whether a person’s background plays a role was mentioned in the media coverage, without citing figures from the study.
It is certainly not the case that this group of young, conservative men consists mainly of boys of non-Belgian origin
The full study, containing all the questions and answers, includes this breakdown. It shows that when it comes to traditional gender roles and attitudes towards gender diversity, the results for people of foreign origin are more conservative than the average.
Traditional roles
These results are in line with other, albeit limited, research. “It is to be expected among young people who have been raised in a more religious environment or with stronger traditional gender roles,” said sociologist Cecil Meeusen of KU Leuven.
“But you cannot narrow it down to religion or origin. When we take into account socio-economic status, parents’ educational level and so on, those differences level out. It is certainly not the case that this group of young, conservative men consists mainly of boys of non-Belgian origin.”
The research can provide indicative insights but does not constitute a statistically reliable result for this, incidentally very diverse, group
On De Afspraak on VRT Canvas, philosopher Maarten Boudry claimed the VRT was concealing conclusions about people of foreign origin from the study. He produced a piece of paper which he said was an internal email showing that the VRT was “sweeping the findings under the carpet”.
The VRT disputes this and says breakdown by ethnic background was not included in the reporting because those figures were not statistically significant.
News and analysis
“It has been suggested that, as a public broadcaster, we wish to sweep these results under the carpet. Nothing could be further from the truth,” the company said in a statement. “VRT NWS has devoted considerable attention in its news and analysis coverage to aspects of the study relating to ethnic background.”
When it comes to people of foreign origin, it is important to interpret the results carefully, it says. “The research can provide indicative insights but does not constitute a statistically reliable result for this, incidentally very diverse, group in society.”
The sample of people of foreign origin comprises 310 people. They are predominantly of Dutch origin (95 people), as well as Moroccan (16), Italian (11) and French (10). Based on these small numbers, it is not possible to make statistically reliable statements about specific groups, and there is no point of comparison against which to test the sample.
Statement from research agency Profacts
“Profacts conducted the Foto van Vlaanderen survey for the third time on behalf of the VRT Research Department. This survey gauges the opinions of Flemish people on various social issues, without asking sensitive questions about the respondents’ religious beliefs or political preferences.
“More specifically, a representative sample of the Flemish population aged 12 and over was surveyed via an online panel (n=2,261). The sample was compiled on the basis of the characteristics of age, gender, province, educational level and the proportion of people of non-Belgian origin. However, this does not mean that the subgroup of Flemish people of non-Belgian origin is representative in terms of its internal composition. Results for this subgroup alone should therefore be interpreted with due caution and cannot be considered fully representative of this population.”