Women’s faces are widely considered more attractive than men’s
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A recent large-scale study involving 12,000 individuals from around the world has revealed an interesting trend – female faces are generally perceived as more attractive than male faces. Surprisingly, the study found that women are even more inclined than men to rate other women’s faces as more attractive.
Lead researcher, Eugen Wassiliwizky from the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Germany, noted that in most mammals and birds, it is typically males that evolve features to attract the opposite sex. However, humans seem to deviate from this norm, considering females as the “fairer sex” as observed by biologists dating back to Charles Darwin.
The study aimed to empirically test this assumption by analyzing existing data on facial attractiveness. The preference for female faces was found to be stronger among female raters, indicating a global trend that transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries.
While physical differences between male and female faces contribute significantly to the preference for female faces, the study also suggests that knowing the sex of the individual can influence attractiveness ratings. Women rating other women higher than men could be attributed to factors like solidarity or a heightened appreciation of female beauty.
Dr. Anthony Little from the University of Bath commended the study for confirming the existence of a “gender attractiveness gap,” emphasizing that attractiveness extends beyond mate selection. Karel Kleisner from Charles University in the Czech Republic highlighted variations in physical differences between men’s and women’s faces across different populations, shedding light on the lack of significant effects in certain regions.
While the study focused on facial attractiveness, Wassiliwizky acknowledges the need for future research to explore whole-body attractiveness and delve deeper into the nuances of attraction dynamics. Understanding the complexities of human perception and preferences can provide valuable insights into societal beauty standards and interpersonal relationships.
