British scientists claim that men are placing increasing value on traits such as intelligence when looking for a woman and women are taking a bigger interest in men’s looks.
The study was conducted by Dr Marcel Zentner and his team and found that in western civilisations modern men and women are changing what they look for in a partner.
Dr Zentner, a psychologist at York University, said, “We found in societies like Britain, or especially in Scandinavia, men place increasing value on other qualities, like intelligence, rather than curvy figures or skill at cooking”.
Likewise, women are also changing their preferences. Traditionally women would look for a man who could provide for a family but now women are putting a man’s looks nearer the top of their priorities.
What is thought to have caused the changes is that women are becoming more equal to men with having to go to work and staying at home less.
With women earning their own money, it’s less likely for them to look for a potential partner based on his wealth.
Dr Zentner and his team surveyed 12,000 people in more than 30 countries asking them to describe which traits they most valued in a potential partner.
They worked with the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index which looks at educational opportunities, health and political empowerment.
From this they were able to determine that those countries with the highest gender inequality were more likely to look for the more traditional traits in a partner such as a curvy figure, good cooking skills, and being able to provide for a family.
Dr Zentner believes the findings have challenged the perceptions that our brain is hard wired to look for certain traits in a partner.
He says, “These findings challenge the idea proposed by some evolutionary psychologists that gender differences in mate-preferences are determined by evolved adaptations that became biologically embedded in the male and female brain.
“Our study suggests that increases in gender equality in the society around us can also change the way we think about the opposite sex.
“Men can relax about having to build up wealth, but may benefit from looking after their looks a little more.”
The roles of men and women in Britain seem to be reversing as not only are women becoming brainer than men, with 58 per cent of undergraduates being women, but the number of British househusbands has tripled over the past 15 years.
What qualities do you think are important in a partner? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @FemaleFirst_UK
Cara Mason
by Cara Mason
find me on 
and follow me on 
