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This is an interesting theory:
Some scientists have argued that during a recession, men desire fuller figured women. So pass the enchiladas and let’s consider the evidence.
Amid plunging bank accounts and canceled vacations, behold: a bright spot. The recession might actually bring one thing that some women can welcome. Studies suggest that changes in the state of the economy can influence what men find sexually attractive in women– and when the economy’s bad, it’s good to be fat. Or, at least, a tiny bit fatter. It isn’t much, but it’s all we’ve got.
In 2005, Dr. Leif Nelson, an experimental psychologist then at NYU’s Stern Business School, published a study that now cries out for our renewed attention.
“When the economy is clearly and uniformly tanking,” Dr. Nelson told The Daily Beast earlier this week, “what will emerge is some kind of a shift to more of an ideal of a fuller, plumper woman.”
… The concept driving Nelson’s work is that people implicitly judge the overall availability of “resources” in the environment—both cash and food—based on how much of it they themselves have. This assessment, in turn, influences their choice of a romantic partner. Nelson’s work also assumes that feeling poor and feeling hungry, while not identical sensations, are linked to the same basic, underlying mechanism.
He himself does not try to explain what, or why, that is. “This is the sort of opaque black box of the process,” he says. “That feeling of resource scarcity goes into the black box and a relationship preference comes out the other side. Certainly what it is not is that men are introspecting and saying, ‘Hmm, how hungry am I right now? I need to recalibrate my preference in women.’
… Hot and Heavy
by Casey SchwartzInfo RSS
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Photo of America Ferrera by Bob Ramirez / Retna Ltd.Nelson concedes that it’s unlikely that men are able to precisely narrow down, pound for pound, their idea of a sexy female body: “If you ask men ‘What would the ideal woman weigh?’ they have trouble with the question. They don’t even know how much they weigh.”
Nelson interprets this ultra-thin margin as the products of statistics, arguing that what is likely going on is that one group of men is swayed, fairly substantially, toward heavier women, while others might not be as affected. The average difference looks small, but it may stand in for something significantly, um, larger.
The concept driving Nelson’s work is that people implicitly judge the overall availability of “resources” in the environment—both cash and food—based on how much of it they themselves have. This assessment, in turn, influences their choice of a romantic partner. Nelson’s work also assumes that feeling poor and feeling hungry, while not identical sensations, are linked to the same basic, underlying mechanism.
He himself does not try to explain what, or why, that is. “This is the sort of opaque black box of the process,” he says. “That feeling of resource scarcity goes into the black box and a relationship preference comes out the other side. Certainly what it is not is that men are introspecting and saying, ‘Hmm, how hungry am I right now? I need to recalibrate my preference in women.’”
Nelson isn’t attached to various biological or psychological reasons that might explain his results, but Dr. Terry Pettijohn II, a psychologist who has done related research, has his own point of view.
Pettijohn believes that one major factor that determines what men consider sexually attractive in women is something he calls “the environmental-security hypothesis.” Men are likely to choose the women they’re involved with at least in part from an instinctual sense of what is in their own best interest, given the current state of the “environment.” During challenging economic times, men would gravitate toward women they intuited were mature, independent and protective; when times are flush, men wouldn’t prioritize these same values, and instead seek a woman who appeared to be “less emotionally strong, less physically strong,” Pettijohn says.
Pettijohn investigated his hypothesis in two different studies, looking at the facial features of the most popular American movie actresses from 1932-1995 and then, in a second study, looking at both the bodies and faces of Playboy Magazine’s Playmate of the Year from 1960, when the tradition began, through 2000. He found that during rocky economic and social times (which he calculated with a composite “General Hard Times Measure”), the most popular actresses appeared more mature, with smaller eyes, thinner faces, and stronger chins; likewise, the playmate of the year during these tumultuous periods were slightly “taller and heavier,” and also tended to have smaller eyes. By contrast, when things were good, the popular actresses had more baby-faced qualities—bigger eyes, chubbier cheeks—and the playmates tended to be “shorter and lighter.”
Guys, any truth to this one?
Stephen J. says: I think it may be a case of mistaking correlation for causation.
I myself have always been a fan of the more voluptuous feminine form – in fact, Cassy, were you not devoted to your Marine, were I not happily married myself and were we anywhere in geographical proximity, you’d be exactly the sort of woman I’d pursue myself with great enthusiasm and appreciation. But that’s been a constant for me, and has nothing to do with currently tight economic concerns.
I think perhaps it may be more that when the cultural zeitgeist becomes fraught with anxiety — actually, lemme rephrase that: When people get freaked out in bad times, I think they tend to be more aggressive about pursuing what they want and being open about what that is. And I’ve always believed that more guys like curvier women than the fashion/entertainment establishment has ever really grasped. So when going after what you want becomes more urgent, fashionable fads fall away and real desires emerge.
William says: I have had the occassion to date women of all sizes. My biggest complaint about the little tiny women is that they are little tiny. I go to hug them and I feel like I am hugging myself!! My wife is a curvy gal (like you Cassy) and if I really wanted a broomstick, I would be with one!
Gredd says: I guess I’ve always been in a recession because I’ve always been attracted to curvy chicks.
I guess in some kind of primortal survival instinct kind of thing, a guy would know a big woman knows where to find food.
Personally, I’ve always been drawn to pleasingly plump.
As for certain type of girl..
if she was cute and had an interest in me.. that was my type 🙂
Shannon in AZ says: Light curvy Cassy style is always in. The data from study is junk.
What Stephen J. said. From the time I first really noticed girls for what they are, I’ve trended toward the softer, hour-glass, Rubinesque form. Hard, lean bodies are for Marines (for whom I have an admitted though entirely heterosexual man-crush) not women. I admire and long to be like the former. I admire and love to hold the latter. The latter should be soft and cuddly.
Wil says: Let’s define “curvier” shall we?
First and foremost, it must go IN in the middle. Americans of both sexes and all ages are getting just plain fatter. Put lipstick on a pig or try to reword ‘fat’ to ‘BBW’ you still just have fat.
That being said, _curves_ have always been in.
Hollywood and People mag might like ultra-thin girls, but big busts, narrow waists and round bottoms have NEVER gone out of style with straight guys.
Ummp Ummp Ummmp
Mike says: I think the study confuses what men really like with what the film industry and Playboy think they like. Probably when the economy is flush, the producers and publishers can amuse themselves showing the kind of women they like…but a recession and a fight for business survival concentrates the mind. It suddenly becomes important to determine what the customer wants and deliver it.
For me and the guys I’ve discussed this with over the decades (I’m over 50), curvy has always been in, good economy or bad. We don’t want to see straight or angular bodies…we’ve got that going on ourselves, or at least had it when young. We want the curves and soft skin…
In the beginning of “Bonfire of the Vanities”, Tom Wolfe nailed it. He wrote of the “Social X-rays”, affluent 40-ish NY wives who starved and exercised themselves into painfully thin curve-free perfection. While the wives complimented each other on their boyish figures, their husbands panted after the young women with the hourglass figures and round booties.
If truth be told, I was looking for a tall and thin woman. But I have been happily and faithfully married for the past 20+ years to a sumo wrestling contender.
If you can enjoy life with them, you take them as they are!
What does the economy have to do with it?
Deocanto says: I was considering when “thin is in” became so popular. Pictures of actresses and models of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s all had “curves” (I’m specifically thinking of Mae West, as an example).
Wasn’t it during the 60’s- as a counter-culture statement (i.e. Twiggy and the bikini-clad dancer from “Laugh-in”)?
What do you think?
Cylar says: Ditto what everyone else said. I’ve always preferred slightly heavier women. Pretty much all of my girlfriends have been a bit on the hefty side. I’m 6′ 5″ and so I look more at height than I do weight, really.
I do like the big boobs, as well as the other curves that I can get my hands around. I also have an unfortunate tendency to ogle larger women that I see in public.
Not all men share my opinion; I had a friend in college who was ga-ga for the slender, nearly-flat-chested female form. I told myself that at least he and I wouldn’t be competing with each other for any individual woman.
I think the only problem I have with hefty women, is the attitude. Some of them go through life with a chip on the shoulder, because they think men cling to unrealistic expectations about the female body. News flash, ladies…it ain’t us. It’s those frackin’ magazines you read and brain-dead TV programs and movies, that are showing you the wasp-waisted women. It’s not the guys you meet.
My hope is that women who’ve been struggling with weight problems (and the related self-esteem issues) will see this article and take heart.
pLeCx says: i totally agree with Cylar on his statement
“I think the only problem I have with hefty women, is the attitude. Some of them go through life with a chip on the shoulder, because they think men cling to unrealistic expectations about the female body. News flash, ladies…it ain’t us. It’s those frackin’ magazines you read and brain-dead TV programs and movies, that are showing you the wasp-waisted women. It’s not the guys you meet.”
I’ve always had a thing for voluptuous women but somehow its really hard for me to hook up with them because every time i tell them how i feel they think im playing and im not really serious. they’d be thinking like
“why me?…”
they just find it hard to believe its what i find sexy.
im a filipino and women here in our country really have problems believe me…
i really wish women here would think like women frmo other places and just be comfortable of of who they are and of what they have.
anyways i don’t think that the recession has anything to do with the fact about what men really want in a woman or what kind of woman they would prefer.
PS. i just stumbled upon this site while browsing in work. ahhaha. i think Cassey is hot. plz send me email updates on this site, i can’t seem to find a slot for email updates. 🙂
Lydia N. says: Cylar: “My hope is that women who’ve been struggling with weight problems (and the related self-esteem issues) will see this article and take heart.”
Well, you got your wish.
I’m adopted, and my entire family is full of thin, flat-chested, short women…. Next to them, I feel huge. I’m curvy and I’m tall, and it gets embarrassing for me when I’m compared to one of my cousins…. Especially when I have to look down to talk to them, yet feel so small and, well, JUDGED inside.
This entire society has gone crazy. I look at pictures and statues of art from the 16th century and back, and I see gorgeous, curvier women. Then I see the models of today’s society, and I feel horrid about myself again. I swear, this society is like psychological torture on women who don’t fit the mold! It’s degrading, and esteem-lowering, and being showed that men only like thin women does NOT help matters.
Then I saw this article. I read it, and it makes sense that the recession would cause that reaction in men, but, at the same time, I still doubted it would happen in my lifetime.
And then I read all of your comments….
I have to admit, I’m completely blown away. I didn’t realize that men really do like curvier women….
No offense meant, truly, but, most guys tend to give off severely mixed signals, and it’s hard to tell what’s more appealing to them. It sometimes seems like a guy is at first hot, then cold, seeing only black or white and no room for the gray shades in between. At least, that’s how it seems.
I wish that more guys would be more forward with the type of women that they like. Then maybe a majority of us would stop bashing ourselves and getting self-esteem hits whenever we see a slimmer girl go by. Maybe then all the crazy starvation diets and bulimia and anorexia would slowly dissipate till all of that insanity becomes no more than a memory in this terribly misled society.
I know that I’m just one person, and I know that it may not mean much, but thank you for your posts. (And thank you for taking the time to read my rant….)
~Lydia N.
I like curvy women, and women who may be a little over weight. I don’t like extremely overweight though. I also like skinny women. But not anorexic. I guess I’m pretty flexible where women are concerned. After all, as they say “beauty is on the inside”
Ok, ok lets face it I love all women;)
Voluptuous to me is such an exotic & stimulating word!
Where’s my pillow…..
Great post too I might add
inkibert says: big girls you are beautiful
Mrinal Pathak says: just one sentence would say it all….
“Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder”
every man has got different tastes… based on their conditions, they fall for women who fit with their chemistry..
To all you ladies, who’re reading this….. you’re god’s best of all creations on earth…
mrinal pathak
Adamo says: I always loved thin women. They are beautiful to me. Even their flat chest is so elegant, when I kiss their chest I felt closer to their heart. And when they wear low cut blouses with that deep triangle opening that shines with uninterrupted light, flat and white and elegant. I like it. No, I don’t go after little girls, nor I am gay. In fact I even find more exciting mature women who are very thin. They have all the femininity inside and it shows in bed. They don’t have to prove that they are real women by throwing big buxom at you with desperation. They are assertive in bed, their feet slender and pretty, their big eyes so bambi-like. I don’t deny the pleasure of making love with a fat woman. It is amazing, I admit that. But for my daily watching, the thin is in. for me.
Tomomi says: The comments here made me smile…almost all I guess. As a curvaceous woman its nice to see what some men really think. My friend and I have discussed this many times, and actually made a pact to walk with our heads higher and not be put down by our cultures standards of beauty.
And we’re also open to various types of men – they have their own issues as well with this.
* And I don’t believe the economy has anything to do with men preferring bigger women.
Pete says: I’m wondering if this will get posted, since only 1 of 19 had anything to say that didn’t go along with the premise.
Sorry, I like women that are thin, if that means no rolls, no jiggling flab on their arms, a waist smaller than her hips by a decent amount.
Boobs – heck, even very small ones are fine, if the rest is thin (i.e., no flab hanging) and the nice UNEXAGGERATED curves are there – Sure if you have a bunch of flab on your butt, it will make the curves more severe – sorry, that doesn’t make it look better.
Sorry I am tired of women getting upset that I like ones with a below 25 Body Mass Index. Mine’s 25, but I have a 48″ chest, 35″ waist – I am 47. The size is from muscle not fat. It’s what I like to see under a woman’s skin too – defined muscle. Of course, that’s asking too much isn’t it. That’s what I’m told by the ones that don’t like the fit women I date.
Sorry, fat is not pretty. Not to me.
Ron says: I prefer tiny petite women. While there are some that can handle a bit more weight and still look good thinner is better. The hour glass figure is nice as long as the bottom of it balances out with the top which I prefer not to be overly large. I like butts that are tight in other words NOT Beyonce or Lopez too damn flabby. I am already to damn fat and fat on a woman is worse. Fat is just that FAT, BBW is just an excuse women give to allow themselves to be fat. This country is killing itself by telling everyone that it’s OK to be a size 14 ’cause that’s average. We need to lower the damn average to single digits. I admit I’m fat why can’t women? If my knees and feet weren’t so thrashed I’d be doing my best to get back to 200 at most and I’m 6’3″ I felt good and alive at 175 now at 275 I feel like crap, out of breath climbing stairs or even tying my shoes. Overweight can not be in shape no matter what the fat ones say. Lose some weight or you’ll die fat.
Cassy,
Thought you’d enjoy this quote from Andy made at my spot over the last weekend…
The fact the we are here, after a few other dust-ups, at this wicked little cartoon, is a testament to the proclivity of people to tell a writer what his point is because there is something else they would rather discuss.
It’s like Godwin’s law with Hefner instead of Hitler. Any discussion involving relationships between men and women will be swiftly directed to a declaration of the evil, unhealthy female body image presented by the media, and the tremendous pressure that it places on girls.
And the cartoon to which he is referring is here. If I had the balls, I’d put it on my next custom-fired coffee mug and take it to work. But I don’t. This “Godwin’s Law” is very real, and I find I can’t even broach the subject at my own blog, with a nearly all-male court being held fer petesake, without getting my head chewed off.
Deadsayer says: I’ve always preferred slightly plumper, curvy women with a full, hourglass figure. It’s way hotter than the media’s semi-anorexic idea of what’s hot.
Em says: Ouch.
I’m naturally little and thin (5’2″ 106 lbs). Does that mean I should put on forty pounds so I can be “curvy” and “sexy”? Sacrifice the ability to run and move and not wear uncomfortable bras for a muffin top and squishy arms? No thank you. I’m going to continue to be little and thin when all the curvy girls stop being curvy and just get plain old fat.
Reggie says: I have always been a fan of “curvy” women since I was a teen… Big girls always have been & always will be sexy to me…
Brian says: Wow, there are lot of Cassy fans reading this column, and they all seem to be a fan of the fat chicks. Surprise, surprise. I weigh about 165 and won’t start dating a girl who weighs more than 120. The reason is because they all eventually put on weight, and frankly, I don’t like when a girl is bigger than me. If they are, it’s because they’re overweight, by the scientific definition, and usually obese (unless they’re over 6 feet tall).
Some guys might find obese sexy, but it’s not conducive to producing desirable offspring (fit, attractive, athletic), so that’s my biological excuse for keeping away from the big girls.
And unless you’re a broke ass who can’t take care of your woman financially, her looks shouldn’t mean anything different during a recession. I’ve never heard a guy changing his taste in women when times get tough.
Sorry, Cassy, that’s just wishful thinking on your behalf. And you’re picking at straws to find scientists who support your theory.
Paul says: Yah for fat girls! They get heart disease and die at 50 so we don’t have to put up with their nasty smelling vagina’s anymore.
Seriously, fat girls have the nastiest smelling va jay jays. We’re not wolves – your rank pheromone stench only attracts fat guys who can’t find love anywhere else and know they have a shot with a girl who weighs more than them.
Shelley says: I am a natural size 14 – years of yo yo diets have pretty much guaranteed that I’ll never be thin. I just don’t have the discipline to keep the weight off. I have a group of girlfriends who are all size 6, and when we go out together, its always me that gets the most attention. I am confident in myself and dress well which probably helps, but I do find that I am described as “sexy” by my friends and guys alike. I think its great that a woman like myself whom society (and the doctors!) says at a size 14 is obese, and yet I feel great about my figure. I get far more compliments about my figure than my society-approved size 6 friends do. So as long as I stay healthy rather than morphing into true morbid obesity, then I’ll be delighted.
Have I noticed more interest in me since the recession? Of course not! The guys have always been into the Marilyn Monroe type bodies will always be interested, no matter how much cash they have in the bank – and thats great news for women like me!
Peace, love and Double Ds! xx
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