Just what men need – a sex survey that kicks sand in our faces | Peter Ormerod

So, the scientists tell us women like chiselled abs and massive biceps. But is this really a great cultural moment to be reinforcing toxic gender stereotypes?

Good news at last for strong, heterosexual men who conform to masculine stereotypes: women tend to be more attracted to you than they are to weak men. It seems those downtrodden, marginalised, overlooked alpha males may actually have something going for them after all. The wonders of science, eh?

There might now follow, from a decidedly sub-Herculean specimen like me, a stream of wry self-deprecation. There might be references to bits of my body that are particularly podgy or scrawny, by way of humorous contrast with the ideal. Were this social media, I might post a picture of my hairier-than-I’d-like shoulders. I might respond to this latest confirmation of beta-male inferiority with attempts at irony or wit.

Related: Polish up your pecs: women prefer strong men, say scientists

Continue reading... December 14, 2017 at 04:11PM