Gender Differences in Characteristics Reported to Be Important Features of Physical Attractiveness

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether characteristics of physical attractiveness named by respondents as important would differ from those attributes previously examined by researchers. Gender differences related to the identification of important characteristics of physical attractiveness were also explored. Subjects, 230 male and 240 female undergraduates at two western state universities, completed a self-administered questionnaire. Respondents agreed that body build was the characteristic of greatest importance for both physically attractive males and females. Other important characteristics for physically attractive males were eyes, face, height, and hair and for females, hair, face, and eyes. Other than body build, there was no consistent ranking of characteristics by male and female respondents.