In evolutionary terms this is because it was advantageous for the women, to have someone who could provide food and safety for her and future offspring. It could be inferred that the reason why women generally like older men is because of the greater likelihood of financial security (Winston, 2002). Dunbar (????, cited in Winston, 2002) found that women like men who take risks because this heroism is interpreted as an ability to protect their offspring. argue because of the narrow approach, evolutionary psychologists have generally failed to consider exactly what women find attractive in men, but even Darwin (1871, cited in Grogan 1999, p.159) himself commented that looks are important for both sexes.
"Both sexes if the females as well as the males were permitted to exert any choice, would choose their partners not for mental charms, or property, or social position, but almost solely from external appearance" .
Consistent with this another important factor in sexual attractiveness is symmetry of the body and face. The Greek philosopher Pythagoras even came up with a formula for a beautiful face. If the ratio of the width of your mouth to the width of your nose is 1.618 to 1 then you are considered beautiful (Winston, 2002). In evolutionary terms it is an important indication of health. Similarly the waist and hips of the female figure is another sexually desirable attribute for a man. More often than not men will choose a woman with an hourglass figure (a waist hip ratio of 0.7 is the most preferred) because according to evolutionary theorists it demonstrates that a woman is fertile and will be successful in producing lots of healthy children. However this view has been challenged by other researchers, particularly the feminists arguing that there is a particular body shape that women are expected to conform to in order to be sexually attractive to men (Grogan, 1999). Charles and Kerr (1986, cited in Grogan, 1999) interviewed 200 British Women and found that the main reason why they wanted to be slim was to be considered sexually attractive by the opposite sex.
