Secular changes in standards of bodily attractiveness in women: tests of a reproductive model.
OBJECTIVE
Since success at work is favored by a more slender body build while reproduction is favored by curvaceousness, standards of women's bodily attractiveness should be predictable from economic and reproductive variables.


METHODS
This hypothesis was tested in a replication and extension of a study by Silverstein, Perdue, Peterson, Vogel, and Fantini (1986) which looked at correlates of curvaceousness of Vogue models over time.


RESULTS
As economic prosperity increased, and as women's participation in the economy, and higher education, increased, curvaceousness of the standards declined. As the proportion of single women to men, both aged 20-24 years, increased, and as the birth rate declined, curvaceousness was reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that cultural standards of attractiveness are influenced by an evolved psychology of mate selection.
Barber
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Department of Psychology, Birmingham Southern College, AL 35254, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising; D001824:Body Constitution; D001828:Body Image; D004651:Employment; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D012098:Reproduction; D012737:Sex Factors