Even Blind Men Like Curves

Scientists in Australia and Hong Kong have recently conducted a comprehensive study to discover how different body measurements correspond with ratings of female attractiveness. The study, published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, found that across cultural divides young, tall and long armed women were considered the most attractive.

"Physical attractiveness is an important determining factor for evolutionary, social and economic success," said lead author Robert Brooks from the University of New South Wales. "The dimensions of someone's body can tell observers if that person is suitable as a potential mate, a long term partner or perhaps the threat they pose as a sexual competitor."  Previous studies have focused on torso, waist, bust and hip measurements.

In this study the team measured the attractiveness of 96 bodies of Chinese women (from the neck down only) aged between 20-49 years old.  Videos of the models were shown to a sample of 92 Australian adults, 40 men and 52 women, between 18 to 58 years of age, and mostly of European descent. The researchers then compared the attractiveness ratings given by the Australian group to the ratings from the Hong Kong group to avoid cultural bias. The team then explored the statistical results, focusing on age, body weight and a range of length and girth measurements.

The results showed that there was a strong level of agreement between the 4 groups (the two groups of men and two groups of women). Younger, women with narrow waists and longer arms, especially relative to their height, were considered much more attractive.  "Our results showed consistent attractiveness ratings by men and women and by Hong Kong Chinese and Australian raters, suggesting considerable cross cultural consistency," concluded Brooks. "In part this may be due to shared media experiences. Nonetheless when models are stripped of...obvious racial and cultural features, the traits that are considered attractive tend to be shared by men and women across cultural divides."


These findings that attractiveness seems to be consistent across cultures was, in fact, taken to a whole new level this June when a study appearing in Evolution and Human Behavior, by Johan C. Karremans, Willem, E. Frankenhuis, and Sander Arons found that even men who are blind prefer women with an optimal, low waist-hip-ratio (WHR) of .70 (meaning a waist measuring 70% of the hip measurement) which has long been stereo-typed as the ideal "hourglass" figure.

Karremans and his colleagues explored the WHR preferences of men who  were blind from birth, thus largely eliminating the possibility that these men were taught via media images to prefer a particular female body type.  The researchers used two mannequins dressed in exactly the same way but who varied in terms of their WHR (0.70 or 0.84). The blind men touched both mannequins subsequent to which they provided attractiveness scores on a 1-10 attractiveness scale (higher meant more attractive). The results showed that 68% of the subjects found the low WHR to be more attractive.

The evolutionary explanations for these cross-cultural findings share the logic that lower ratios somehow signaled ancestral men that a woman would produce more or fitter offspring, and one recent study even argued that mothers with lower ratios tend to produce smarter kids, because of certain fatty acids in a woman’s hip padding, delivered in the womb and through breast-feeding, are beneficial to the development of a baby’s brain, while belly fat is detrimental. Whatever the reasons for these primal constants there is good news here for women.  The curvy, low WHR figure tends to reflect the actual body-shape of the average woman so we needn't worry about looking like the gaunt, straight-sided "ideals" we see on magazine covers and billboards. Follow this link to find sexy tips from Kim Kardashian to accentuate your curves and this link to discover exercises that you can do in just a few minutes every day to keep your curves in shape.

Hot, Crazy Marital Sex

Some sources estimate that 50-60% of all marital problems or disputes have sex as their underlying cause. Issues that may have been overlooked are often blown out of proportion in relationships where one or both partners feel sexually inadequate or undesired. Sex, in and of itself, is not the single litmus test for how healthy a marriage is but a lack of physical love and intimacy is certainly an indicator of a marriage in decline. Sex does more for us than provide a means for procreation or physical enjoyment, too. Sex in a marriage or long-term relationship solidifies a sense of intimacy and connection with each other. Sex relieves stress, boosts your immune system and helps you sleep better. Besides, it's fun!

Take some time out to just be with your spouse again and spend that time just talking between the two of you about all the things that brought you together and all the fun, hard, happy things that you've been through. Marriage counselors agree that "alone time" is crucial to a successful, passionate relationship. So, turn off your cell phone, get a babysitter and just focus on each other for a couple of hours. Remember when you were dating? You couldn't wait to see that person again, couldn't wait to find out more about them. Try re-discovering who your spouse is. Ask questions you haven't asked since those early days, you may be surprised to find out that your beloved has new hobbies, interests and passions that you didn't even know about.

Take your sex to another level tonight. Chances are if you've become bored with the same old bedroom routine, your spouse has too. Expand your sex play and role-playing or introduce some fun toys or games into your love-making. Be uninhibited and don't laugh at one another if they don't work out as great as you imagined. This is supposed to be fun and if you don't experiment, you'll never know what new things might become your new favorites. Just take it slow and ask for feedback along the way.

Recognizing that your sex life has taken a downturn is the only way to start correcting it. Good sex is about learning to listen to each other and remembering that your most powerful sex organ is the one between your ears. Leave old baggage and resentments behind and start today remembering and reliving the hot, crazy sex you had when your marriage was new.