Print

Defining Beauty 9 between the genders contribute to sexual dimorphism, or the distinct differ- ences in physical appearance typical for each gender. For example, the most attractive men tend to have exaggerated masculinity: they are taller and more muscular and have broader shoulders and an inverted triangular-shaped torso. Testosterone stimulates more masculine facial features such as a solid jaw, defined brow ridge, and facial hair. The most attractive women, alterna- tively, have features consistent with exaggerated femininity: they are shorter on average than men and have an hourglass shape with a narrow waist and curvy hips. Estrogen inhibits masculinization of the face and instead stimu- lates the development of fuller lips, smaller jaws and noses, larger eyes, and defined high cheekbones. These external sexual characteristics place a great demand on metabolic energy for one’s physical development and maintenance. Furthermore, de- spite the myriad benefits of testosterone, it has been found to inhibit immune system functioning making men more susceptible to infections. Therefore, only the healthiest and genetically strongest individuals have the metabolic resources to create and maintain sexually attractive bodies. Only the health- iest individuals should demonstrate these extreme sexually dimorphic fea- tures, thus communicating genetic health in a similar way as symmetry. Ultimately, sexual dimorphism has been decreasing over evolutionary time. Males and females used to have much larger differences in body size and facial features and they have become more similar over time. Although today’s average female is still smaller than today’s average male, there is much more overlap and similarity. The reason for the changes in overall body size over evolutionary time tends to relate to what each gender finds attractive. Males rate females with narrow waists curvy hips delicate facial features clear, smooth skin and healthy smiles as more attractive than the alterna- tives. These preferences have been quite consistent through history, between cultures and within individuals. Female preferences are more variable and are related to both changes in parental investment over previous generations and hormonal changes during the individual woman’s menstrual cycle. This means that changes in overall body size differences between males and females are largely tied to which men women are selecting as reproduc- tive partners. Throughout evolutionary time, as humans have conquered and tamed our environment, women have become more interested in selecting more caring men who will invest in and help raise their children rather than merely selecting men strong enough to protect them in a dangerous envi- ronment. Today’s males, thus, have an increased level of investment in child care, and this extra investment means that the children are more likely to survive. The males who are more likely to care for children tend to have more characteristically feminine traits. Thus, today’s females are more likely to be attracted to males with more stereotypically feminine traits, especially when the woman is seeking a long-term partner to father her children. These traits