Are women's mate preferences unrelated to their menstrual cycles?
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Southern California, analyzed the results of 58 experiments and concluded that women's criteria for choosing a partner do not change significantly at different stages of their menstrual cycle.
Researchers have found that women of childbearing age tend to prefer men who are very masculine or genetically healthy. However, this preference is not limited to the ovulation period; they also prefer masculine men at other times. Conversely, women with lower fertility tend to prefer kind and gentle men. However, this preference lasts throughout the month and is not concentrated after ovulation.
Experts say, "Everyone believes that the menstrual cycle affects women's mate selection criteria. Our research shows that there is no obvious correlation between the two, but we cannot completely rule out the possibility. Based on our research results, the menstrual cycle may still have a slight influence on women's mate selection criteria."
Are cultural factors greater than biological instincts?
The research team analyzed a variety of experimental designs, investigating a range of factors related to male genetic health, such as the size of the chin, cheekbones, and brow bones, the amount of facial hair, voice pitch, and behavioral patterns. They then referenced the researchers' criteria for defining female fertility, including levels of reproductive hormones and descriptions of menstrual cycles by the participants, to compare whether women in their ovulation period perceived genetically healthier men as more attractive.
Data analysis revealed that women, both during and after ovulation, are more attracted to masculine men, specifically those with a strong sense of dominance. For the same woman, this preference for masculine men did not increase with the onset of ovulation, nor decrease after it ended. Furthermore, some women prefer gentler men, a preference that remains unchanged throughout their menstrual cycle, regardless of whether they seek a short-term romance or a long-term relationship.
Experts say that to fully understand the human reproductive process, we must respect women's ability to control themselves and not attribute all their choices to physiological determinism. Regardless of how people chose mates in ancient times, with the progress of civilization and the development of communal living, women have acquired the ability to adjust their reproductive behavior according to social conditions. If evolutionary psychologists also emphasize physiological influences while ignoring the role of culture, they are neglecting people's ability to control their own behavior—an ability that is precisely one of the most important human characteristics.
