One in four think Santa should be female or gender neutral

More than one in four people in the US and UK want Santa to be female or gender neutral, according to a new survey.

More than 4,000 people were asked what gender Saint Nick would be if they could rebrand the mystical present-giver for modern society. 10.6 percent would opt for a female Santa, the poll results show.

And 17.15 percent would prefer a gender neutral Santa, meaning that overall, nearly 28 percent of people would ditch the traditional male version of Santa if given the choice, according to the survey by GraphicSprings.

Female Santa is a hot-button issue

The issue of what gender Santa should be has taken on a new significance in recent times.

Despite existing on a level of reality with the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and Pikachu, many are convinced that Santa cannot be seen as anything other than an old, white man.

Santa should be old, white and male, according to some (Pexels)

Arun Chandran, a Labour Party councillor for Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, England, moved to ban female Santa Claus impersonators from taking part in an annual winter parade last month.

“I think the kids would be confused if they got to see Father Christmas and it was a woman”

— Linda Robson

He said that the concept of a female Santa Claus was “a form of political correctness,” adding that it was “a male role.”

The issue was the focus of a debate on ITV’s Loose Women on November 28, with panellist Linda Robson arguing: “Father Christmas is a man as we all know, and I think the kids would be confused if they got to see Father Christmas and it was a woman, so I think we should keep it as it is.”

In contrast, Stacey Solomon said that so long as the costume resembles Santa Claus, it didn’t matter who was wearing it, arguing: “Is this female Santa wearing a beard and hat? So what does it matter what’s underneath?”