Posted on 12/12/2004 11:31:24 PM PST by nickcarraway
Most men would rather marry or date their secretary than their boss because they instinctively fear that women in positions of authority will cheat on them, American research suggests.
Psychologists who carried out tests on 328 volunteers found that male subjects were more likely to be attracted to subordinate colleagues than those of a similar or more senior status.
Men are genetically programmed to avoid stronger women as potential mothers to their children because they perceive them to be more likely to be able to attract other sexual partners, the study found.
Stephanie Brown, the lead author of the study, from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, said: "Powerful women are at a disadvantage in the marriage market because men may prefer to marry less-accomplished women. The male participants showed a strong attraction to the target when the target was subordinate to them."
The research was published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour. A group of 120 male and 208 female students was shown photographs of people of the opposite sex and given imaginary scenarios that involved the person being their boss, a colleague of the same status or a subordinate.
They were then asked to rate how much they were attracted to the idea of going to a party, exercising with, dating or marrying that person.
However, all is not lost for strong women in the mating game, said Gladeana McMahon, a relationship counsellor and author.
She said: "I think the group of men attracted to strong, independent women is growing as traditional roles are eroded."
Our tax dollars at work.
I disagree. I think men do shy away from women of stature but it is not for fear that she will be unfaithful. It's for fear that she won't be supportive or impressed with him.
Most men are looking for an attractive woman to give them approval and companionship. But many a male ego requires that he be looked up to either for strength, intelligence, wealth or some other factor with which to have leverage and respect in the relationship.
I don't think most men are worried about being cheated on.
Let the John Kerry jokes commence :)
They surmise, without apparent reason, that the infidelity is the reason that men prefer subordinates. I offer a different theory: Men prefer to go out with someone who makes less than they do. That way, they can always be the primary breadwinner, and don't have to feel like some kind of "bum" because the little woman makes the same or more.
Just my theory after talking with my girlfriend for awhile. Who, by the way, makes more than I have any hope of! But, I'm secure enough with my masculinity.
You mean it's not due to the feminazi claptrap that we're just exploiting those beneath us? Wow. Neat.
Um...that's redundant.
That can't be true.
Here's a thought - men perceive 'powerful' women who are above them in their career path as A) career oriented women with little interest in taking time off to care for children, and B) a source of great trouble if the relationship turns sour.
Altho I'm not a government funded scientific study, a guy who dates his boss is likely to be in very big trouble if/when they break up - in my experience, guys tend to forget/move on after a breakup, while the woman remembers every possible slight for several hundred years (and reminds you of them at least daily).
So while unscientific, it MAY be that guys don't want the hassle at work, and DO want someone to raise their children. We MAY even be genetically programmed like that, although there is no indication that this study did ANY genetic research of any kind.
I'd be inclined to agree. It's an ego thing. Men would tend to assume that a powerful, independent woman doesn't need them, likely because a powerful, independent woman doesn't need them.
Isn't U-Mich. in Michigan?
Some men realize this and shy away from women powerful women. Divorce already happens too often.
You have so got that right!
ALSO:
Marry a plain, drab, un-sexy woman since less likely she'll cheat
And that's my wife! I don't even want to imagine what it would be like having my boss be a gal I broke up with - to be honest, quiting the job would be the only sane option. Then moving across the US. And switching careers.
"I think the group of men attracted to strong, independent women is growing as traditional roles are eroded."
Whoo Yeah! Just reading this study, I'm already feeling more attracted to demanding independent bull dyke career women who want to crack my nuts in a vise.
WoW! It took our tax dollars for them to figure out that the man likes to be (or feel) in charge in the relationship. Friggin Geniuses. Here's another thing I will tell them for free, most woman like to marry men that have more money/better job than them.
I saw a program on the discovery channel years ago about the sexes. It made this very point, and said that this was cross-cultural. It went on to say that the least eligible marriage group were teenage males. Usually no job, no money and such and such.
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