The Perception of Women of Different Ages of Men’s Physical attractiveness, Aggression and Social Dominance Based on Male Secondary Sexual Characteristics

Abstract Purpose The aim of the study was to determine whether there were any differences in women’s evaluations of facial masculinity, beardedness, body shape and muscularity according to their age and menopausal status. Methods The women assessed warp-modified photographs of a man in which the prominence of his secondary sexual characteristics was altered in three areas of evaluation: physical attractiveness, degree of aggression and social dominance. The material consisted of 122 Polish women, aged 19–70 years (mean age: 45.6 y., SD = 15.1 y.), representing three menopausal stages: premenopause, perimenopause and postmenopause. Results Significant differences in women’s assessments were found. Both age and menopausal status had a significant impact on the rating of physical attractiveness. Older women rated men with medium and full facial hair as more attractive, while menopausal status had no effect. Postmenopausal women rate V shaped bodies as less attractive. Women’s age had no effect on their ratings of male body shape attractiveness. Older women rated men with light muscularity as more attractive than younger women. No effect on menopausal status was found. There was no significant effect of age nor menopausal status on ratings of aggression and social dominance. Conclusion The degree of development of the secondary sexual characteristics is an important biological signal to others in the population, as it indicates the biological fitness of the individual. A man with outstanding sexual characteristics is perceived by women as a carrier of ‘good genes’, which indicates his readiness to undertake the parental investment.