ANT211H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Female Body Shape, Concealed Ovulation, Sexual Stimulation
Document Summary
Heavy cultural influence on what people perceive as sexually attractive. In a sociological point of view, we would ask ourselves is there any reproductive or adaptive value to these qualities? . 3 circumstances for a specific behaviour to have an evolutionary significance: must be seen cross-culturally, must have an adaptive value (must affect reproductive success, must be evident outside of our species (in our primate ancestors) Female sexual selection (traits we look at) body shape asymmetry breasts. Waist hip ratio (whr) (singh, 1993a) - tried to determine a sociobiological female body shape that was attractive to males across all cultures (that had reproductive evolutionary value) He selected women who were generally considered attractive and measured their breasts, vs, waist, vs hips. Ideal female figure cross culturally signals female reprod status, reprod capability & health status. Typical range female: . 67-. 80; men - . 80-. 95 there was a constant ratio within the range of . 7.
