Metrosexuals vs. Manly Men: What Your Attraction Says About You
Posted May 5th 2010 9:00AM
Print Article by Kristina Knight for AOL Personals
A recent study from researchers at Aberdeen University in the U.K. found that women who live in healthy countries prefer metrosexual or more feminine-looking men. You know, the type who are not only physically fit but who also wax, manicure and get facials. They also determined that women in unhealthier countries prefer masculine men, those who aren't quite as "pretty" but who appear to have strong genes.
Lead researcher Lisa DeBruine said that women are either looking for a "high genetic quality" mate or a "good dad" type of mate. The researchers merged the photographs of men and women to create both metrosexual and masculine images of men. They then polled nearly 5,000 heterosexual, Caucasian women about which men were most appealing.
The results? About half of the study respondents from Mexico, one of the least-developed countries polled for the research, preferred the masculine men. About one-third of Swedish women, one of the healthiest countries polled, preferred the look of metrosexual men. So they deduced that healthier women like metrosexual men and unhealthier women like masculine men.
I disagree with their conclusion. Sure, a chunk of women in highly developed countries are more attracted to metrosexual men. Certainly a large amount of women in underdeveloped countries are attracted to the rough-and-ready types. But a random polling of single friends found that who we're attracted is actually just personal preference.
Take Mollie. She lives in a small town in the Pacific Northwest and is a long-distance runner. "No facial hair, no long hair. Heck, no hair at all is fine with me," Mollie said. "Seriously, I like a guy who is clean-shaven, who obviously takes time with his appearance and who isn't going to chafe my skin with his calloused hands."
Or Genevieve, who lives just outside New York City in a beauty shop. "I don't know what it is about the bad-boys," she said. "But let a scruffy guy on a Harley drive by and my hormones go on alert!"
Linda, who recently became engaged, says, "This one took me by surprise! Before I met Tom, I dated every loser in the book. Most of them had long hair, were scruffy and had muscles on top of their muscles. Tom has a receding hairline and is fit without the man-big chest of muscle. He's really the opposite of everything I thought I wanted, but he is perfect for me!" Linda lives in Arizona and is a chef.
"I like masculine men, but without the scruff," said Ray-Anne, who lives in Texas on a cattle ranch. "Give me a guy who loves the great outdoors and sports but really knows how to pamper himself. I don't mind if my man gets a mani-pedi every now and then or waxes his eyebrows. That just means he's working hard to impress me."
So, my unscientific survey of four random, unmarried friends found that both masculine and metrosexual men are equally attractive to women. It just depends on the woman.
What do you think, readers? Are metrosexual men the perfect mate? Or is a manly-man, bad-boy type more to your liking?
_________________________________________________Nice article. So Whay say you?
personally, mani's and pedi's are taking it kinda far imo... way too much effort on his part. i would like the guy to be conscious of his appearance to the point where he is not offensive but stays true to who he is, a Man. i mean, i don't want his hands to chafe my skin, but i don't want him lotioning them every two seconds to keep them moisturized either, lol. high maintenance men are waaaaaaay too much work, but a guy who knows how to take care of himself with reasonable expectations is cool. i don't want no scruffy man either! no, no, no, you must appear to know the benifits of a shower.
i.e scruffy does not include a 5 o'clock shadow, but sorry guys, it doesn't work for all of you....
I think I would actually be more attracted to a masculine guy. Not necessarily scruffy, though that can be hot too, but a guy who looks like he could work outside without breaking a nail...fingernail, that is. No, he doesn't have to be the type who can fix anything and build anything. He doesn't have to love to be covered in dirt and grease, and he doesn't have to stink. A guy can sit at a desk all day and still be masculine. A guy can care for his appearance without being sissy.
The whole mani and pedi thing is WAY too much for me! And waxing is unnecessary as well, unless he has a uni-brow that needs to be tamed!
well, I like the appearance of manly man and have always dated them in the past (pre-Jesus)
BUT I'll take a bookworm anyday.
if he gets a mani oh well, just dont get the shiny polish, that's weird. I dont want his feet looking all tore up either, so pedi wont be so bad but no shiny polish ;)
So...how about a manly man in appearance with a bookworm brain. Perfect!
What an interesting article Elle, thanks for sharing.
I prefer manly men..the ones can come in, take charge, know where their going. That said, I really appreciate a balanced man. Maybe he prefers going to a wine tasting as opposed to a football game? Maybe he drives a motorcycle but enjoys massages?
If a guy has super bushy brows and has someone tame those wild beasts, I say go for it. Creepy: A man who spends money each month to get a full body wax.
If a guy suggests watching the latest romantic comedy because the last few picks were all action, that's awesome. Creepy: A man who's whole video collection is chick flicks.
I also don't mind at all when guys have girls who are friends; but a guy who has a lot of girl friends, and no male friends because "women understand him better'...that's a red flag as well.
If I need someone to vent to I want my women friends..not a guy who's just one of the girls.
