Taking the pill for last 40 years 'has put women off masculine men' (new study...no evidence yet)

The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | October 7, 2009 | David Derbyshire

[Stoat]

(edit)

Scientists say the hormones in the oral contraceptive suppress a female's interest in masculine men  - and make boyish men more attractive.

 

Dr Alexandra Alvergne, of the University of Sheffield, says the Pill could also be altering the way women pick mates - and could have long term implications for society.
 

'There are many obvious benefits of the Pill for women, but there is also the possibility that the Pill has psychological side effects that we are only just discovering,' she said.
 

'We need further studies to find out what these are.'
 

(edit)
 

Scientists have long known that a woman's taste in men changes over the menstrual cycle.
 

During the few days each month when they are fertile - around the time of ovulation - they tend to prefer masculine features and men who are more assertive.
 

On these fertile days, women are also more attracted to men who are 'genetically dissimilar', Dr Alvergne said.  Picking a partner whose genetic make up is unlike their own increases the chances of having a healthy child.

On days when women are not fertile, their tastes swing towards more feminine, boyish faces and more caring personalities, researchers have shown.
 

However, if women are taking the Pill, they no longer have fertile days.

That means they no longer experience the hormonal changes that make them more attracted to masculine men - and those with dissimilar genetic make up.

Although the effect is subtle, Dr Alvergne said it could alter society's view of male attractiveness.

'It is a possibility - but there is no evidence of this yet,' she said. 'We need a lot more research in this area.'

 

 

 

[Stoat]

My apologies for the severe editing of this article...this was done in order to remain in compliance with Free Republic rules pertaining to the posting of articles from the UK Daily Mail.  Please click on the main article link to read the full story.

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Although it would indeed be interesting to see whether this theory is borne out by fact, it will undoubtedly have the immediate and tangible effect of legitimizing Oprahfied wimpishness, metrosexuality and worse among 'men'.  When we are subjected to endless imagery of effeminate males, simpering homosexuals and ineffectual Woody Allen types and are told that these 'men' and the blight of metrosexuality is normal, the purveyors of such destructive cultural imagery now can point to this study and others to give credence to what they do, saying "but this is what women want!"

The only women I've known that want this in a 'man' are rather pathetic themselves.

[Stoat]

 

 

Macho men: Stars such as Sean Connery, left, and Kirk Douglas, right, were considered pin-ups in the 1950s and 60s
 

Although the change occurs for just a few days each month, it could be enough to influence the fashions of the day.

If the theory is right, it could partly explain the shifting in tastes from macho 1950s and 1960s stars such as Kirk Douglas and Sean Connery to the more wimpy stars of today, such as Johnny Depp and Russell Brand.
 

 

Women's attraction to 'boyish' stars such as Johnny Depp, left, and Russell Brand may be due to hormones in the contraceptive pill


 

 

[avacado]

"Scientists say the hormones in the oral contraceptive suppress a female's interest in masculine men - and make boyish men more attractive."

Well there ya go... I never stood a chance!

[SandWMan]

Is this why women absolutely adore sodomites? And the more effeminate the better?

[wastedyears]

I never stood a chance!

Me either

[wastedyears]

Hard times for men who are men.

[parsifal]

I’ve been saying for years I thought the pill-induced physical adolescence was also producing a psychological adolescence which explains rise in completely crazy 40ish year old American females.

parsy, who is scared of women

[andy58-in-nh]

It's not "The Pill". It's the culture.

American women are bombarded daily by ubiquitous messages in TV programming and commercials, in films and in the theater, in newspapers and fashion/lifestyle magazines that promote the idyllic male as soft, sensitive, passive and moody, groomed and perfumed, toned and tanned, elegantly dressed, and a lover of all things Hip and Urban.

All of which is to remark that to the Keepers of our Culture, the ideal man is Gay.

[cvq3842]

The real problems could come when a woman gets married and stops taking the pill. Some have said that the attraction changes, and this is a reason for divorce.

http://all.org/article.php?id=11542

[absolootezer0]

Women's attraction to 'boyish' stars such as Johnny Depp,

ask a woman which johnny depp character she thinks is the most attractive, and it won't be wonka or crybaby. more likely one of his more masculine roles.

[Billthedrill]

Oh, I dunno. You just gotta like what women like. They like lingerie, right?

[Tax-chick]

I find this theory rather dubious. There have been other periods in history when a delicate appearance for men was fashionable, and it’s improbable that contraceptive pills were a factor.

If the hypothesis is correct, though, it means the fertile women would choose the real men, thereby improving the species through the production of innumerable Tax-chickadees ...

[FastCoyote]

Seems quite plauible to me.

[Clemenza]

Looks like most of the young men who are moving into my neighborhood. The girls all look like young Laura Linney or Goth Girl types.

[Boardwalk]

The schools are also pushing an “ungendered sense of identity.”

[absolootezer0]

the idyllic male as soft, sensitive, passive and moody, groomed and perfumed, toned and tanned, elegantly dressed, and a lover of all things Hip and Urban.

wo0t! i'm *IN*!!

[Skip Ripley]

Gayer than Macauley Culkin singing show tunes...

Bisexuality became so fashionable for women because if you’re gonna get busy with a woman, it might as well be a real one. :)

[red irish]

I was thinking the same thing?

[elcid1970]

But if the guy in the commercials is married, then he’s a dumpy clueless dork compared to his smart sassy wife who `gets it’.

[Frenchtown Dan]

Since when do women know what they want?

I’ll be married for 35 years, and I still can’t figure it out.

[wastedyears]

Sorry to hear that. Lucky for me I’m not friends with anybody like that. I don’t even know how to make them jealous.

I would guess invite a real musician over.

[andy58-in-nh]

The schools are part of the problem. They are dominated not by those committed to transmitting Western knowledge and cultural values, but to whatever is most closely the opposite of those things. Often, that takes the form of topics such as African tribal rites and queer poetry.

[Niuhuru]

Why not take the BC shot Depo-Provera? I took that for years, no menstrual cycle and no PMS. As for men, I much so prefer the muscular rugged type: http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800018724/photo/37416

Grrr, come to Niuhuru.... :p

[sodpoodle]

We have been ‘meddling with Mother Nature” and totally misunderestimating Him ...this topsy-turvy trend has been underway for decades and the results are in.

Complete imbalance in procreation so we have IVF, abortions, rented wombs, gay marriage, cougars and old coots coupling with their grandchildrens’ friends.

We are so scroooooooooooooooooooooooooed up!!!

[ScottinVA]

[Moleman]

Your comment doesnt surprise me. 50% of all mariages fail, which is a pitty. I was told in June by the wife of 17 years that she wants a divorce. Been a difficult summer / fall.

[envisio]

I tried to steer clear of this fagotty thread but you just had to drag me in didn’t you.

[fso301]

How do these results compare versus women of childbearing age who had hysterectomies and post-menopausal women?

[RockinRight]

Small factor in a multitude of factors that cause this. Let’s not forget the “everyone is the same” attitude in education, the Hollywood p*ssification of men, etc...

[Alcibiades]

This would finally explain the whole Justin Timberlake pop icon thing to me.

[ROTB]

>Is this why women absolutely adore sodomites? And the more effeminate the better?

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Relax. They adore them the same way they adore a Toy Poodle.

They are for amusement, not for mating.

[RC one]

sorry to hear that brother. I witnessed a similar event in my family this summer. Very sad. Good luck.

[ScottinVA]

How masculine men are portrayed in today's culture

[absolootezer0]

of course i gotta bring you in. your opinions on this type of thing are half the fun of a thread like this.

[ROTB]

>his smart sassy wife who `gets it’.

If she’s so “smart and sassy”, why did she wind up with him?

[ROTB]

Have to admit, that’s pretty funny.

Our MSM/SRM culture is worthless.

[envisio]

BINGO!

90% of commercials and sitcoms the men are bumbling idiots that are scared to death of their wives/girlfriends..... even their children.

[JoeProBono]

[Clemenza]

I would drop a daisy cutter on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, but the roaches would likely still escape and wind up in Astoria!

[bboop]

Thanks for holding the line on macho, then. Some of us REALLY don’t like the girlie men.

[andy58-in-nh]

But if the guy in the commercials is married, then he’s a dumpy clueless dork compared to his smart sassy wife who `gets it’.

That is a great observation, and as my own long-suffering wife is well aware, it has become a huge pet peeve of mine. Of course, my managerie of "peeves" is growing by leaps and bounds these days, leaving little room on the shelf for fresh new irritations...

Nonetheless, it seems like every other TV commercial (and many programs as well) features a "couple" of whom the female is invariably smart and sassy and "with-it"; she's impossibly up-to-date with every new trend, idea and gadget; she can conduct a high-level business meeting in a power suit, then go home and cook a gourmet dinner before doing three loads of laundry, exercising at the gym and coming home late to work on her third novel before running out to give a speech at the UN in the morning.

And her husband just doesn't appreciate her, as he sits in his lounge chair with his stained t-shirt open drinking beer from a can and watching Bodacious Babes of Wrestling on TV. And in those rare moments when she is paying attention to the mindless, sex-addicted drunken slob she somehow oddly chose to marry, she gives him - that look.

You know which one. It's a sort of sideways "knowing" look - at once dismissive, condescending and pitying. In fact, I've seen that look a great deal, not from my wife, ever, who is wonderful, but from someone else I see ever day: our President.

[envisio]

Too busy at work right now to tackle this subject proper.
Why don’t you go spritz something and I’ll check back later.

[gathersnomoss]

Women are also digging women more. Some prefer carpet to hard wood, I guess

[avacado]

You’re welcome!

[absolootezer0]

i started looking into some of those sitcoms.. you know what attracted the women to those men in the first place? they WERE manly once.

i’m starting to think they have it made actually. they got the hot girl who does everything for him and all he has to do in life is drink beer, watch tv, work somewhere where its more hanging out with buds rather than actual work, and occasionally get nagged to do a project which he inevitably bumbles and never gets asked to do again.

[absolootezer0]

i do have a new body spray that some chick left at the house last week..

[cvq3842]

Ugh! I’ve been there - or close enough to know what it’s like. You have my sympathies.

[envisio]

Or he could tell his wife to “shut the hell up or hit the bricks” and keep on being a man.

[married21]

Ok, I’ve met a few white and asian girls who like Johnny Depp, and they tend to be a bit shy. Not gonna see them in anything strapless, for example.

But there are also a whole lot of really buff guys around, who certainly do have wives and girlfriends. And the rap artists are frequently really muscular, and often shaved bald, which has been perceived as a really virile, macho look.

I’m guessing that there are two cultural movements. There are the really macho dudes are with the really Barbie women, and both are in the mode of “vive la difference”. And then there are the euro-cool people who like the girls to have extremely straight hair and minimal curves and the boys to have pretty much the same.

Can anybody get back to some balance on this? Can’t there be a place for people who like being manly or womanly, without going overboard with the workouts or the surgeries?

[GladesGuru]

“the idyllic male as soft, sensitive, passive and moody, groomed and perfumed, toned and tanned, elegantly dressed, and a lover of all things Hip and Urban.”

Something of a textbook definition of a SNAG.

SNAG = Sensitive New Age Guy.