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SEX-Y GENES
Now, being shallow isn't such a bad thing.
by Megan Heffley
Genes (and jeans) we'd love to have our hands on
Five of the Sexiest Men Alive as voted by People magazine
Sean Connery
Pierce Brosnan
Brad Pitt
George Clooney
Matthew McConaughey
Five of the Hottest Women as voted by Esquire magazine
Jessica Biel
Angelina Jolie
Rene Russo
Halle Berry
Sharon Stone
Sexy. Slammin' Hot. Phat. Smokin'. Handsome. And, yes, even bootylicious. These are the words people wish others would use to describe them. Yet, how do people determine what is sexy? Is it chiseled cheek bones or luscious lips? The answer to this question lies in the jeans — er, genes.
Studies show that people typically choose mates, sometimes subconsciously, that will successfully produce offspring. Factors in physical appearance will lead to feelings of attraction that are far beyond a person's realm of thinking. Estrogen and testosterone are not just the hormones that produced the body parts that shocked us in bath tubs with our siblings, but they also say a lot about attractiveness to the other sex. This attractiveness is directly related to fertility.
Not just a pretty face
Hormones play an enormous role in the way that our face is shaped. Estrogen, the female hormone, halts growth in facial formation in the lower face, making that cute, petite chin. This makes her eyes and lips more prominent. Testosterone, the male hormone, continues this process making that strong jaw line and more prominent brow.
Full lips in a woman signify higher levels of estrogen and make women more attractive to men. Many women use makeup to enhance the estrogen-enhanced features of their face. This would explain why women are buying lip plumping lipstick that makes them look like Angelina Jolie. However, making yourself look like a paint-by-number can cause a reverse effect. "It is really unattractive when someone wears so much make-up that they look like a Barbie doll," says Kyle Weinstein, Overland Park senior.
Scent of a woman... or man
Studies conducted by Dr. Randy Thornhill, evolutionary biologist at the University of New Mexico, found that men
and women were more excited by different_smells that were put out by members of the opposite sex.
Men and women can subconsciously detect smells that are associated with something as simple as facial symmetry. "When women are fertile, the scent of men's symmetry smells really good to them," says Thornhill. Facial symmetry is found more attractive to women during ovulation. Symmetry signifies that an individual has better genes and less genetic mutations. Thus, reproduction would be more successful.
The men in Thornhill's study also found that women in their fertile window (the seventh to 14th day of her cycle) smells more attractive than women who were not. However, women
who were taking hormone contraception did not because the hormones keep her from ovulating (sorry girls, you smell
"WHEN WOMEN ARE FERTILE, THE SCENT OF MEN'S SYMMETRY SMELLS REALLY GOOD TO THEM," — RANDY THORNHILL, EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGIST
the same all month long).
During ovulation, women found that men with more testosterone to be more attractive. This is why Colin Ferrell's chiseled face and Matthew McConaughey's rugged looks seem more attractive at certain times of the month than others. "When women are fertile, they are looking for genetic quality," says Thornhill. More masculine qualities show better genes
and thus are more desirable to a fertile woman.
In the long run
Once the raging hormones of ovulation calm down, Thornhill says that women are actually more attracted to men with more estrogen than during the fertile window. These men have proven to be better "relationship" types. These men are more romantic and a better investment in the long run. Men with more testosterone don't tend to be good with feelings and showing emotion. In other words, they won't cry at the movie on your date.
When looking for long term relationships, men tend to date younger women. As women age, they produce less "woman juice" and lose fertility and the features that men find attractive. Before, you girls say "shallow bastards,"
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION/MICHELLE GRITMAN while reading this, keep in mind that it is an unconscious thought process that is indicative of successful reproduction.Women even do things to promote a more youthful look besides plumping their lips."I used blue eyeliner to make my eyes look greener,"says Meredith Kuzanek, Overland Park senior.
Jeans or genes?
Whether you believe what the scientists say, it's fairly clear that attraction is a major component to choosing a potential mate. Looks are the first impression that is made in meeting someone for the first time. So next time you notice how good someone's butt looks in those jeans, remember why you might think so. You may find yourself a little more reserved.
09. 21.2006 JAYPLAY < 05