They are often called the 'fairer sex,' and now research has confirmed that women are indeed perceived as more attractive than men. In a new study, experts analyzed over 1.5 million ratings of faces from diverse countries and discovered that female faces consistently received higher attractiveness ratings across different ages and cultures.
Gender Attractiveness Gap
This disparity was especially pronounced among female raters, who showed an even stronger preference for female faces than male raters did. The researchers suggest this could be because masculine faces are often associated with aggression and dishonesty. Lead author Eugen Wassiliwizky from the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics in Frankfurt explained: 'Particularly striking is that women rate other women as significantly more attractive than men, while male faces are rated similarly—and overall lower—by both sexes.'
'This may be because higher testosterone levels in men, while signalling dominance, is also associated with increased risk of aggression, dishonesty, or reduced paternal investment. Female faces, by contrast, are known to elicit caregiving responses, attract visual attention, and enhance perceptions of youth and beauty.'
Study Findings
The analysis, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, revealed that the average female face scored higher than about 64 percent of male faces. It also found that men tend to judge faces more strictly than women. Overall, the findings indicate that attractiveness judgments are not merely a matter of individual taste but reflect a combination of biological features, individual evaluation patterns, and social influences.
'Writers from Darwin to Dawkins have noted that, in humans, women are considered the 'beautiful sex,' whereas in most species, it is males who display more elaborate, visually striking traits. This reversal of typical sex roles has long been debated but never empirically verified,' the study states. 'Our findings provide robust evidence for a Gender Attractiveness Gap (GAP) with female faces rated more attractive than male faces across sexes, cultures, races, and age groups.'
Previous Surveys
A survey conducted earlier this year by the CREO Clinic, involving 1,000 Britons, revealed what the 'perfect' man and woman look like according to different generations. For Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964), the ideal man is 5'7" to 5'9" with a classic build, blue eyes, and dark brown hair, while the perfect woman has blonde hair, a button nose, and full lips. In contrast, Gen Z (born 1997–2012) prefers men with an athletic build and women with black hair.
On social media, some users have claimed that there are indeed more attractive women than men in the UK. The study's findings align with these perceptions, showing that the attractiveness gap is consistent across various demographics.
