Good morning!
(One of my favorite Sadie pictures of all time.)
I hope your Thursday is going well so far. Ryan and I were talking yesterday about how long this week has seemed. For some reason we feel like we’ve lived 1,000 days in the past four days of the week.
I guess moving and unpacking will do that to ya!
Breakfast
Yesterday’s lunch apparently sparked a chocolaty smoothie craving in me, so I listened and blended up a chocolate coconut banana smoothie bowl.
In the mix:
- 1 1/4 c. almond milk
- 1 frozen banana
- 1/2 c. frozen strawberries
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 1 1/2 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 tsp. xanthan gum
- 1 tsp. coconut extract
- 1 large handful fresh spinach
The coconut extract really amped up the flavor of this smoothie bowl. I am a coconut lovah!
Men Prefer…
On the way to the gym on Monday, Ryan and I heard about a recent UK study conducted to discover which physical features men found most attractive in women.
Approximately 60 percent of the 2,000 men polled said they preferred women with darker hair (33.1 percent chose brown hair and 28.6 selected black hair). Blonde hair received 29.5 percent of the votes with redheads receiving 8.8 percent of the votes.
The study also surveyed men about the size of women they prefer. According to the Huffington Post’s conversion from UK sizes to US sizes, “38.8 percent of men actually favor a pretty average girl — about a size 8 or 10. Only ten percent of British males find a size 2 or size 4 woman most attractive.”
(I loved this comment on the Huffington Post’s summary of the survey: “We like all women. Period. Let’s be honest.”) 
The results of the size preference of women that men preferred reinforced a thought I’ve had for the longest time… I think most women feel like they have to be skinny for other women.
Whenever I point out a celebrity or a girl I think has an amazing body to Ryan (um, Carrie Underwood!) his reply is almost always “she’s too scrawny.” The boy likes a booty!
Questions of the Morning
- What do you think about this survey? Were you surprised about the hair color or size preferences? Disgusted a survey like this was even conducted? Share!
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Like most I agree that girls dress for girls. We all want to one up the other for some reason.
I’ve come to the conclusion that there is always going to be some girl more stylish and with a body I admire but there is a flip side and there may be girls that look at me that way.
And I’m a blond all the way!
These results are surprising to me! But I’ll take em 😉 Glad you posted this! Thanks
These kind of surveys are asinine. “Men” prefer blah blah blah. As if there is one “man” and 3.5billion copies of him on the planet. Each finds an individual woman (or man! let’s not discriminate) attractive based on a variety of attributes, many of which are not based on appearance.
Great post! I need to remember that; when you bring it up (about how we only do it for other women), it’s so true because I always catch myself wondering what another female in my life will think of me in this outfit or that. I never think about what the men will think. Very weird if you think about it. I don’t have the typical Asian body and am very curvy and have to agree that I’ve always gotten compliments on my curves…even from women. My husband has always said that he noticed my booty and my smile first. 🙂
And yes I was surprised by the survey. I always thought blondes were preferred. When I was little, I always wished my hair was blonde instead of black. 🙂
i don’t know about all this… i have heard some pretty mean comments come out of guys’ mouths regarding girls who were by no means “fat”, but just not a toned girl with a flat stomach. just a girl with a little extra weight. the things i have heard guys say about kelly clarkson, for example, who is now a “curvy” brunette… well, let’s just say they don’t go along with the survey results.
also, once a few years ago, i had just gotten home from buying new jeans, and a guy that i knew said something as a “joke” (i don’t even know how we got on this subject) like oh man once you have to get a size 12 you’re in trouble. which at the time was the size i was buying–and he obviously knew what i looked like. but his tone and the delivery of it was to imply that size 12 was an enormous unsightly beast. i know he was just being stupid, and that he didn’t mean anything personally by it, but it just shows that a lot of guys do think about size/weight. it’s sad. i have a feeling that survey results in the US would be much different.
i find people of all different sizes to be attractive! i mean a face is a face. i always say, people who just go for bodies and that’s that are in for a rude awakening — literally, if you marry a butterface, you’re going to have to wake up to that every day for the rest of your life!
Agreed. Super thin is not attractive. Healthy with a nice dose of curves in the right places is. But then, I’m in the minority anyway as I prefer (and am married to) a redhead.
I actually find the results very interesting. I’m a brunette but went fake blond for a drastic switch when I moved to NYC. And personally, I feel like I get way more attention with the blond hair…could be my imagination though.
And on the skinny thing, while the results don’t surprise me, I don’t completely buy them…For example, recently, for my client, we did a survey on flossing which showed that like 80 percent of people floss every day. This is just NOT true. Unfortunately, people lie in surveys. I do think many men value more curvy women, but at the same time, feel like an equal amount prefer skinny women.
As a single woman in NYC, I can honestly say, my weight affects my confidence level with men. For me, it’s not really about comparing myself with other women. I just want to feel comfortable in my own skin so that I’m confident with the opposite sex 🙂
I’ve actually talked to my husband and his friends about stuff like this, and they say that if a girl has confidence (actually, the term used was “swagger” lol) then they don’t care what her hair color is, size of her chest, etc. If a girl with curves has confidence and carries herself like she loves her body, then they find that sexy, the same with a girl with a slim body.
I don’t have a butt to save my life! And I’m not a girl with big “twins” either. I think I’m pretty average all over – and I’m okay with that!
I like this survey. My husband will see someone and if he thinks she is too thin he always say she needs to eat a cheeseburger. Why do women starve themselves? Don’t the realize that they are doing more harm then good to their bodies? I still find that i dress more for the other women then for myself or husband. We are our own worst critics. We act like we are in competition with each other. The celebs can pay for trainers and chefs and make a living off of their looks,so why do we strive to look like them? Unrealistic expectaions. God made us all beautiful and confidence is more attractive.
As a BBB (big booty brunette) I like this survey 🙂
I find it funny that so many women think all men want the exact same thing. Each guy has a different preference just like women do! I will say most of my boyfriends say they prefer athletic with a booty (but that could be because that’s my body type that they said it) but there are definitely guys out there who prefer blonds or big boobs etc!
Within my group of girlfriends we always talk about how each one of us wants something different. My ideal guy is a tall brunette with a swimmer’s body (lean all the way!) But two of my other girlfriends want HUSKY football players. One of my friends actually likes guys her height so they can look eye to eye.
I think I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments more than the survey results!
I remember this survey. Men prefer curves, when they’re ready to settle down, because instinctively they see “birthing hips”. They’re looking for someone to have their babies! 🙂
Interesting! Sadly, I know my hubs likes the scrawny ones. I should clarify – sadly for him! 🙂
im a curvy girl with a booty too!!! i actually asked my boyfriend if he was a boob or butt guy and he said butt. he ALWAYS thinks girls are too skinny. but then again, he’s 6’4” so the girl’s gotta have something! i find it funny that even my skinniest of guy friends prefer much curvier girls (i just need a big guy bc i couldnt sit on his lap w/o feeling like i was gonna crush him! lol). and, for the record, steve barely says anything when i get all dressed up for dates, but yet the last time i was in workout capris and a tank top with a band in my hair, he told me i looked “so hot!” why do i even bother?… the world may never know lol.
haha my bf does that too! We recently went to a wedding and after I got all dolled up I finally asked him how I looked and apparently I looked “nice”. Then the next day I put on leggings to go work out and he was all “you look fantastic”…really?! lol
My hubby says the same thing as Ryan about women I point out, she’s a little too skinny.
But, I’ll argue that men like blondes better! 😉
Totally random question, Julie: I was wondering how you were able to capture such an adorable picture of Sadie! We have a 7 month old golden/lab puppy and I’m always trying to think of creative ways to snap a pic! 🙂
The concept of “beauty” changes so much, I think it’s silly to get too caught up on surveys like this one. Ten years down the road it would probably be totally different! I was listening to a podcast today about Malawi and the women were talking about getting jealous when they see overweight women in the community. In their culture, having a little extra padding is desired!
I’m a redhead (and I would like to think a fairly cute one) so that survey depresses the heck out of me. Haha.
“most women feel like they have to be skinny for other women.”
Speaking for myself, I agree. Although, having been at several points of the weight spectrum (never very skinny), there is no doubt I got more attention from men when I weighed less. But that’s not what fuels mye to “chase skinny.” That has way more to do with my own self-image, as I compare myself to other women. I’m not saying this is a good thing, but it’s the truth.
Neither of these statistics surprises me! My husband is more for the curves (booty!) too.
My bf has the EXACT same reaction. Every time I think I’ve put on a little weight, he LOVES it. The boy likes having more to love, ya know? ; )
and I feel like this week is gone in the blink of an eye! Seriously!
I love that picture of Sadie, too cute! And your speech bubbles for her always crack me up.
I’m glad men like a more “average” sized woman. Now to get to that “average” size!
poor redheads! we’re always in the minority! I also think that a large number of that 8.8% are the creepy guys in bars that come up to you and say ” i love redheads…” always a sure sign to run away!
LOL! yes, run far, far away! and, for what it’s worth, i’ve always been jealous of red heads. i LOVE red hair. i think i get that from my dad b/c he’s always loved redheads. okay, i think that just got weird… 🙂
Julie – You crack me up. I also love red hair (I’m burnette, no booty though) and I always threaten to dye my hair red. Apparently they would have to strip the brown out of it first though. YIPES. Not doing that.
PS. I was just in orlando with my boyfriend and I kept being like “well, on this blog I read she says this and that about Orlando…” He was like WHO are you talking about? Do I know this person? LOL
hahah love this. My bf always says who is julie?? I think for a month he thought she was a new friend of mine
If you like coconut you should totally try adding coconut milk to your smoothies! So much thicker and creamier than using almond milk. I use the unsweetened kind and it is only 10 more calories per cup than unsweetened almond milk. Sooo good 🙂
My husband loves my body (annoying apple shape and all). I think you can’t say all men like this or all men like that. Or even really most men like this or that, because studies can try to guess what men like by sampling a few of them, but everyone is different. If they had asked different guys the results could have been completely different. Or even the same guys on a different day, tastes change and evolve.
Sadie is too freaking cute!!
Have to chime in and say sure…if by curvy, you all mean big bubble butt, boobs, and a perfect flat stomach. Yes, in my experience, that is what men prefer. But how many of us are really proportioned like that? I have a booty that has garnered much praise from past bfs. But I also have a stomach and upper arms that I hate.
I guess what I’m saying is that obviously, guys like boobs and butt! How is that a question! But what about all the other stuff that comes with? Would they really choose that over skinny?
Really good point. I agree that that specific body type is very rare!!
Where is the love for us gingers?? So sad… 🙁 hahaha
I think the results of that study are really interesting, as is your point that women try to be skinny for other women. I think that’s true to an extent, but I don’t know if for me at least that’s always been the case. When I think about that sort of thing, it seems like my desire to be thinner than I’ve been at a given time has been because I was under the impression that being thinner would make me more attractive–thus making guys more interested. But at the same time, I think I was also doing it for other women–if I were the skinniest one in the room, then they would look at me and think, “Man, I wish I had her body,” instead of me looking at them and thinking the same thing. It’s interesting to note, however, how other people were at the root of all of this. Being thin wasn’t about being healthy–it was about making other people like me. Talk about an unhealthy attitude!
i love gingers!!!
This is very interesting to see, but I must agree with the commenters and with the poll…my hubby must agree too (since I’d say I fit the dark hair and curvy description).
I do think that we as girls dress for other girls…it is so easy to get stuck in a comparison trap. I know I’m guilty of that a lot.
I was just thinking about that yesterday after listening to a morning show discuss makeup. It sounded like a majority of men liked girls with little makeup, and women just tend to wear makeup for other women. Sort of the same with fashion… A lot of women dress to impress other women.
The discussion on this is all very interesting! To echo what a lot of people have already said, I think things like this are kind of silly because in the end, looks are just a small part of who we are and attraction comes from so many other places. As a naturally thin girl who would love to have a little more curves, but is very grateful to not have to worry about my weight, I’ve realized that it’s such a waste of time to compare ourselves to ANYONE and try to listen to feedback on what guys find attractive. We are all made different for a reason, if everyone was skinny, or everyone was curvy, this would be such a boring world. I’ve accepted that I’m never going to be bootylicious and love that I’ll always be thin, and I have other muscular, curvy friends who have accepted that they’ll never be stick-thin. And that’s great!!
As for dressing for girls as opposed to guys, I don’t really think there is anything wrong with that. I think it is important to listen to your husband or significant other and what they like, but I love fashion and dressing up and seeing what my friends are wearing, so I’ll probably never stop dressing for girls since I know they’ll appreciate it! Just dress for yourself and what you feel good in and people will appreciate your confidence more than what you’re actually wearing.
Great post, thanks for bringing up this discussion!! xo
I love the survey! And completely agree with your mans statement. It is nice to hear that, especially for women. We become a prisoner of our own selves, obsessing over our bodies. We forget we are… WOMEN! 🙂 Higher in fat and estrogen, less in testosterone and muscle …naturally. When we are the prettiest. We must embrace our true natural bodies! Boobs and butts are fat ladies! 🙂
I’m a curvy brunette, so I clearly am happy with these answers..but I have to say it’s sort of true. I mean of course there is the occasional drop dead gorgeous girl with an awesome body and face, that has all the guys staring..but overall women have a warped perception of what guys like. I definitely know I do, but it’s nice to hear things like this. 🙂
Wow! I’m loving these UK survey results 🙂 but I think maybe the UK answers would differ from American answers…unfortunately.
Im blond and a size 2-4 but I’m very fit and definately NOT a stick and have a big bubble butt! My hubby loves it! I would look terrible at a size 8 to ten but I know everyone is different. all women are beautiful
That picture of Sadie is hysterical! You could totally sell it to a doggy calendar! Did you catch her mid-jump or something??
I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion that men like curvier women. Just like they prefer women without makeup and in jeans and a tshirt. I think a lot of what we do in terms of beauty and such is a sort of “Keeping up with the Jones” with other women.
The body shape info is really interesting. From an evolutionary perspective, men will generally be more attracted to women who are not stick thin because being under weight could be a sign of sickness or lower fertility. I’m not saying being thin is bad, if you are healthy and thin that’s great – any healthy body type should be embraced! I’m just saying from a man’s biological eye view, it makes sense that curves are preferred.
Julie’s comment on women potentially trying to be skinny for other women makes me sad because I believe it holds water. There’s a lot of pressure out there to be thin and I don’t think it’s coming from men. Men are usually happy to get any good loving 🙂 I wish we would stalk less about body “types” and start talking more about healthy bodies (or better yet, healthy people).
This is interesting. The idea that “average” is a size 8, though, I kind of question. The average woman is larger than a size 8, I think. I think that size 12 is probably closer to average nowadays.
well, i’m definitely brunette with a butt and curves. i’m small on top, booty on the bottom. i’ve always had a hard time accepting it though. i’m going to be 26 and i think the older i get, the more i’m starting to not care. and yes, i completely agree that women do it for other women. no matter how hard we try not to, we will always compare ourselves to other women. i constantly do that stll. i’m trying each day to tell myself i am beautiful just the way i am. if i want to lose weight or get fit, it should be for me, no one else!
Hum… Most of men I know are thinking that way… I even had an ex boyfriend who will scream : “eat some steak” looking at the skinny girl in the tv. But I also think that there is someone for everyone. I’m a medium size and I do try to be and stay as healthy as I can while feeling confortable in my own skin and trying to maintain (not gaining) weight… and I have a super skinny friend who is doing the exact same thing, but she is struggling with maintening her weight and not LOOSING some… I know it’s frustrating to hear, but it is as frustrating for her that it is for me and she most likely will get angry eyes if she ever say that to a girl!! 🙂
Biologically, it makes sense that men would be attracted to women with some meat on their bones. Even if a guy doesn’t consciously know it, he has a biological need to pass on his genes to the next generation. Women who aren’t emaciated typically have an easier time getting pregnant and they call them “birthing hips” for a reason. A healthy looking woman, is exactly that, healthy–she has a body that looks like it could handle having some babies.
I have to wonder what the results would be in the US? Maybe similar, maybe not? (I’m an anthropologist, I live for this stuff! haha)
I think people like what they like. Even if they answer one thing on a survey, it’s hard to predict who you’ll fall for. I used to think I had a type, but now I don’t think I do! Personality is the make it or break it factor. Looks are just a bonus. I would hope that a lot of guys think that way too!
I totally agree! It’s also the same with fashion – what girls love, so many boys just don’t understand! If we really presented ourselves for boys’ sakes – we would all be Kim Kardashian body/style doubles!
I’m a redhead and a size 2 🙁
I love redheads!!! 🙂
i dont want this to sound weird, but i’ve actually always considered primary stuff-hair color, body shape and what i choose to tone or not-something i do to attract the men i date, and the secondary things-make up and visual(not surgical!)enhancement to be for the girls i’m friends with, only because i think as women we sort of look up to each other to be the one to go out on a limb and say “no, im actually bothering to wear plum eyeliner today because i like it, and you can too. look at how it’s making me a bit happier, you can do this too!” not like were a society of lemmings–i cant speak for anyone else, but my girls notice my makeup and compliment me, and it brightens my day. id like to see research about the dynamics between being attractive for sexual reasons vs. positive reinforcement.
ps: anonymous up there-throw on some plum eyeliner, honey. it’ll brighten your day too!
I think men definitely prefer some shape but I think a 8-10 size is a bit of a stretch. A lot of body types are overweight at that size. I know that my fiance likes my booty and doesn’t mind that I’m just a small B cup, but I think he also really likes that I’m a thin, fit size 2-4. I know that it can sound nice to say men like a bigger size but what, in my experience anyway, men really like is feminine proportions at a healthy size.
with all due respect to you and your fiancee, it’s possible to be a healthy size at an 8-10 and not necessarily overweight. it’s almost the same as saying a 2 is automatically emaciated…healthy is subjective by person, as not all people are the same. experience, like you said, is also entirely subjective.
I didn’t mean that a size 8-10 was too big! I hope I didn’t offend you! I just meant that for petite people or people with very narrow frames that size could be unhealthy.
Hm. I don’t know – I’m torn! I like that this survey shows women that they are too focused on what other women think, but at the same time, we shouldn’t base our ideals on what men find attractive either. Plus, as a girl with reddish hair who isn’t really curvy, and around a size 4 or 6, I feel very self-conscious despite my best efforts not to – like I don’t fit the ideal of men OR women.
I think beauty really is a matter of personal taste to some extent, and your hair colour or body type don’t necessarily make you ugly or beautiful. If I were filling out this survey about my taste in men, I’d say dark hair and blue eyes are in general what I find attractive, but only because I’m being forced to choose – I’ve dated blonds and brown-eyed boys before!
It’s interesting to line my own perceptions up against the study’s results, but I think asking just a few factors gives only a limited perspective on what men and people in general find attractive, and is just perpetuating a different ideal, rather than breaking down ideals altogether.
The healthy size aspect of it though is good to see! Though some people are healthy at a size 2 or at larger sizes, so again it is a bit limiting.
Definitely thought-provoking though!
Love this study– I have had a conversation similar to this with many of my guy friends and boyfriend. They all agree that the majority of guys don’t want someone who is stick thin. The study is definitely thought provoking.
I definitely have a boyish shape, no booty or boobs. But, honestly, I want to find a guy who doesn’t weigh his options for a girlfriend just on looks. I mean, of course, guys are going to be attracted to people or you if you are interesting and I think guys do like curves but it depends. The attraction may get you into a relationship, but once the inside of people starts to show and guys want to stick around, then you know you’ve got someone who actually cares; not just about looks but personality. I think it is hard though as a woman who isn’t pretty to get that initial attention from guys; while they’re staring down the pretty people in the room and talking to them first increasing their chances of being in a relationship. I”m not saying this for pity, but just my thoughts and what I have seen in my life. Great post. 🙂
I tend to fluctuate between a size 4 and a size 0 (I’m only 5 feet tall), and whenever I’m smaller, my boyfriend gets upset that my booty and hips are gone. It’s definitely true!