Waist-to-hip ratio, attractiveness and gender discrimination

Abstract

Women with lower waist-to-hip ratio are considered more attractive to the men. It is suggested that attractiveness is related to the sexual dimorphism of body fat distribution in gluteofemoral region. It is hypothesized that women with lower waist-to-hip ratio provide better energy for pregnancy and lactation; therefore in the course of evolution men have preferred the lower ratio of waist-to-hip for women. Unfortunately, effect of sexual dimorphism of pelvis as a contributing factor on hip size is neglected in previous studies. This paper hypothesizes that pelvis as the most prominent sexually dimorphic trait as well as subcutaneous accumulated fat, exerts an important effect on the attractiveness of women with lower waistto- hip ratio. It also hypothesizes that attractiveness of waist-to-hip ratio is related to men‘s ability of gender identification. Possible evolutionary explanations for effect of gender discrimination on female attractiveness are discussed.