Counterintuitive Study Of The Day
According to a new study, men prefer smart women to pretty women:
NEXT time a man throws you an admiring glance, he’s probably just heard the intelligent things you’ve been saying.
Many women will find it hard to believe, but new research suggests men increasingly value intellect and character in a partner over a shapely figure.
Apparently, traditional wifely skills such as being a good cook are also becoming less important to modern men, British scientists claim.
They say in Western societies where men and women are equal, interest in a woman’s appearance is in decline.
However, women now tend to be more interested in a man’s looks than before, and less preoccupied by their wealth as they are able to depend on themselves financially.
Dr Marcel Zentner, a psychologist at York University, said: ‘We found in societies like Britain, or especially in Scandinavia, men place increasing value on other qualities, like intelligence, rather than curvy figures or skill at cooking’.
Yea, sure. And, before long, strip clubs will be replaced by salons where men flock to watch women give lectures on nuclear physics, philosophy, and French literature.
They want women who are smart so they can put together stuff without nagging while their men drink beer and watch football on TV.
Women are becoming more like men?
Men are becoming more like women?
I blame gay marriage.
Oh, Jeez. Another one of these sociology studies. Here’s the key sentence:
They *asked* them. They didn’t actually find out who was getting more attention or more dates or whatever. The asked them. And, surprisingly, the answers were a little bit more politically correct than what what people actually *do*.
I call BS.
Beyond the methodological flaw @Hal 10000 points to, I’d note that “pretty” and “smart” are not mutually exclusive qualities. Indeed, my own extensive anecdotal study of the matter—something of a hobby of mine for more than three decades now—finds that smart girls tend to be pretty and dumb girls tend to be, well, less so.
The old pop culture version of this exercise—Ginger or Mary Ann?—confirms this hypothesis. Men overwhelmingly choose Mary Ann because Ginger’s annoying while Mary Ann is not only sweet and proficient at a variety of domestic tasks but, um, pretty damned attractive.
@James Joyner: Ummm, Sir, let me know how the girls are, hunh? Email if you want.