Macho men didn’t meet the mating muster
I found an interesting news article today that reminded me of an earlier post I made. Apparently when it comes to selecting a long term partner the ladies today prefer men with “feminised” looks.
In 2002 Desmond Morris, the man-watching expert, said the shift in male attractiveness reflects women’s increasing dominance. “Smooth-skinned and feminised looks are characteristics of youth,” he said. “It’s possible that these looks stimulate not only sexual but also maternal feelings. If women want to be more dominant, they will look for a little-boy face.”
When viewing the results of the most recent study it seems he was on the mark.
Forget the square jaw, rugged complexion and tough-guy macho attitude — what women really want is a man with full lips and feminine features, according to a British study published on Wednesday.
The findings add to previous research about masculinity and offer further insight into what people look for in others when choosing potential partners, said evolutionary psychologist Lynda Boothroyd, who led the study.
“What I’ve shown is that when people look at masculine faces they see them as being associated with dominance — which is a good thing in evolution but less good as a long-term partner,” she said in a telephone interview.
In the study, published in the Journal Personality and Individual Differences, the researchers asked more than 400 British men and women to judge digitally altered pictures of male faces made to look more masculine or feminine.
The participants were then asked to predict personality traits such as dominance, ambition, wealth and whether a person would be faithful or make a good parent, said Boothroyd, a researcher at Durham University.
But it wasn’t the macho men who came out ahead. The study showed these masculine types with larger noses, smaller eyes and thicker eyebrows were viewed as less faithful and worse parents.
Instead it was the “feminine” faces with wide eyes, finer features and thinner, more curved eyebrows that were chosen as the best potential long-term mates, Boothroyd said.
And faces that also appeared healthier — like those with better complexion — were also seen as more desirable in all personality traits. This helps to counter claims that masculinity is best viewed as an indicator of genetic fitness and immunity to disease, Boothroyd said.
“Here what I’m showing is healthiness is really positive and masculinity isn’t,” Boothroyd said. “We shouldn’t be thinking about masculinity in terms of health, which is a totally different thing in women’s minds, but in terms of social dominance.” Source
Not only did the women opt for men with feminine features when judging according to faithfulness, parenting, warmth and commitment, the men did too (when judging photos of men). The participants judged the more macho-looking men as being more dominant. However, there was no difference when it came to spotting who was ambitious or wealthy, both the macho and more feminine-looking men fared equally.
Reference: Partner characteristics associated with masculinity, health and maturity in male faces by Lynda G. Boothroyd, Benedict C. Jones, D. Michael Burt and David I. Perrett
Personality and Individual Differences
Aug 9th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Interesting post but surely women want to be feel protected as well and a feminised male is more like a female friend so theres no excitement in the relationship for the woman, or at least it doesnt last long.
Aug 10th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Parents (both husband and wife) protect their underage children. And nothing can match the determination, wits or strength of the female of the species when her young are at risk. However, in the here and now, all around the world the primary risk to the health and welfare of both women and children does not appear to be coming from 4 footed wild animals or 2 footed barbarians at the gates, now does it?
FWIW I did not select my husband, who BTW is very “masculine” in appearance on the basis of him being able to “protect me”. I consider that kind of thinking to be a hold over from Neanderthal cave-dwelling days. And I believe it has only been kept the proponents of the patriarchy that have kept it alive. This is natural as for centuries they have benefited from viewing their wives and children chattels that could be bought, sold or loaned out or rented to their buddies for sexual “pleasures”, or as “workhorses” or both, while viewing themselves as benefactors.
Today only very immature, brainwashed and uneducated women have been conditioned to think that their husbands are protectors, despite the fact the evidence points to the opposite. Surely we both know that a woman is more likely to be injured or killed by her husband or close family members than by any “wild animals” or “barbarians at the gates”.
My husband and I were best friends for a long time before we became intimate. And I assure you that the sexual excitement we enjoy in our relationship today does not arise from either one of us feeling a need to “protect” the other.
That being said, I appreciate every comment I receive, so although we may disagree I do wish you well. Thanks for commenting.
Namaste
Aug 11th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Without any doubt, I had you pegged as a masculine type the very first time we met online … lol … but, I’m taken.
I also know that if I had taken this “test” I would have shown an extremely strong preference for masculine males. And two ways that I know this are
(1) the “brain-sex” testing I’ve done included a section with the same type of photographs and I chose the masculine ones; and
(2) I’m in touch with my inner woman — feminised men do not turn me on. ;)
I just happened on your comment and it made me so nervous to receive it that I had to edit my response over and over.
Aug 11th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Well this is going to rule me right out of the running. I am many things but feminised I ain’t. :)
Aug 12th, 2007 at 1:06 am
I’m never going to look feminine, but my wife says I am “just gay enough”. Does that count?
Aug 12th, 2007 at 7:52 am
I guess so but I’m not sure I know what she means.
Aug 12th, 2007 at 10:11 am
From The Feminization of Men
“So in conclusion young women want a man who has feminine physical traits, but a combination of feminine and masculine character traits. It is in many ways a contradiction, and the seeking male has to walk a fine line between looking like a sissy and actually being a sissy. The proper balance between being a wuss and being a loudmouth tough guy must be maintained. In any event, the reign of the macho Marlboro man is gone. In is the fake, prissy looking little girly-boys like Justin Timberlake, who’s silly attempt to be a cross between George Michael and an African-American bad boy isn’t fooling anybody but a bunch of idiotic girls.”
Aug 12th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Thanks for taking the time out to give such a detailed response, but I do sense undertones of you misinterpreting or possibly reading too much into my comment.
I wasnt being a proponent of, justifying or condoning the aggressive-type of ‘masculine’ behaviour from the male species.
The research presented would have been fairly eurocentric in that the majority of middle eastern women I know…empowered, independent, highly educated, professional, worldly, wealthy, designer-clad women say that they still prefer to go home to a man who they feel can cuddle up to and in whose arms they will feel protected from the rest of the world. Its not an aggressive masculinity but a warmer side.
On the surface many of the cultures you may consider to be patriarchal are upon closer inspection actually matriarchal in that the grandmother is often the power.
This rambling sesh of mine is a bit disjointed but I’ll probably post a more lengthy response when time allows.
peace
Aug 12th, 2007 at 11:20 am
Thank you for coming back again.
There’s no doubt about it, I love the feeling I get when I’m cuddled in the arms of my man. And, he likes how he feels when he’s cuddled in my arms. Although my Beloved and I don’t fondle each other in public places there’s no mistake about how much we do care for each other. It’s in the tender looks that we share from far across the room.
I hug my girl friends and my male friends as well as my family members. I’m an affectionate person and I would have never considered a relationship or a marriage to a man that was not affectionate too. Sadly, some women I know are in such “cold” relationships that the only touching and hugging they receive from their partners is always a prelude to sex.
We live in times when the feminization of men is an issue. On television we see men are reduced to caricatures of bumbling, inept fools and that’s truly unfortunate. One of the worst depictions IMO is found in that awful show called “Everyone Likes Raymond“.
In fact the news today also carries two stories on this theme
The Fall of Man and
Bedroom Barbs from a Woman Scorned
Sep 4th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
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