Anthropology 101 - What attracts men? Course prerequisite: Philosophy 101
Professor: Pirate

What look do men like? Do they like skinny women, fat women, made up women, natural women? How do I know how to dress? Do men like the same look, or do they each like something different? Why are men attracted by looks and not by substance?

Take me for instance. I like small, thin women in good physical condition - an athletic type. My friend John likes big women with wide hips - pear shaped. Bill likes really large breasts, Frank likes small ones. George likes dark hair, Jeff likes blondes. It would seem that there really is someone for everyone on the physical level at least. Why the variation, and how can I use this information to get more dates?

Once again, genetics has our answers. Remember, our purpose is to propagate and survive. In different regions, this required different strategies. In the extreme northern climates, to survive people had to be nomadic in order to follow scarce food sources. Since the male had to be ready at all times to protect his child and mate, this left the female to carry the young. One baby at a time was all a nomad could manage and still remain survivable. Think of the female in such a place. She had to be able to carry a child over miles of hostile ground on an almost daily basis. By design, she would be muscular and compact no? And since she only has to feed one child at a time, her breasts would be small too.

Contrast this with equatorial regions where people lived in villages that never moved. Predators and disease were the greatest threats, not the environment and starvation. The best way to insure survivability of a species in such a place is by having as many offspring as possible. The male would go out each day to bring home food and supplies for his family. The female would raise and instruct the children. By design, a woman with a large group of children would need big breasts full of milk no? And since she is constantly having more and more offspring, her hips would be wide too.

Now remember there are a lot of variations in climate and living conditions between these two extremes. Today, all this is of little merit (at least in the US). But genetics are slow to change and we have this built in to our very DNA. Why do I prefer small, thin, muscular women? Obviously, my heritage is northern climate, nomadic (and one can easily conclude that just by seeing me). My genes are still seeking out the type of woman that they believe has the highest survivability and propagation value. It's not a conscious choice, nor is it something I can override easily. Attraction is not a choice (see Sociology 101 for more). Evil genes.

John is obviously more equatorial, and what do you know - he is Italian! George is Greek, Jeff is Swedish, and Bill is a lech (HA! No, Bill is merely southern French). Each of us men have pre-programmed body types that attract us based on what our genes value as the best propagation type. The good news is we are all different!

But why are men so hung up on looks? Why can't they see past my boobs into who I really am? In Genetics 101 we touched on this, in Sociology 101 we will expand it. Men already have survivability, and are looking for propagation in a woman. Women can propagate with anyone, so are concerned with survival when looking at a man. Survival value is MUCH more complex than propagation value. One can tell a female's propagation value (for the most part) just by looking at her. Survival value, however, requires a careful screening process and has little or nothing to do with actual appearance. So women are, once again, stuck with the hard part of the equation when it comes to mating. But men, they can sum up what their genes need in one glance. Now modern man has, in general, advanced just a bit. We do have some minor concerns about a woman's personality (that's a joke girls). But at the genetic level, the one that drives us, our attraction is almost purely visual.

Now how do you use this? Well, take stock of your present body shape. Think hard about where that body would have been most survivable back when humans were just getting started. Then search out the men from that region, highlight those aspects of your body they are genetically predisposed to notice, and give them exactly what they are looking for! If you are not sure where your body type fits in, email us a photo and we will be happy to let you know exactly where your genes came from.