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.