Self-perceived and observed variations in women's attractiveness throughout the menstrual cycle—a diary study

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2008.02.003Get rights and content

Abstract

Some empirical evidence suggests that women's sexual motivation varies throughout the menstrual cycle, showing a peak prior to ovulation. One potential byproduct of this increased desire might be a provocative clothing style during the fertile days of the cycle. We conducted a longitudinal diary study with 40 normally ovulating women throughout one complete menstrual cycle and analyzed their reported clothing style and self-perceived attractiveness. We also instructed our participants to take one photo with single-use cameras daily. These photos were rated independently by male raters with respect to clothing style and physical attractiveness to test whether men can perceive the hypothesized variations. We found significant main effects for fertility, suggesting women perceive themselves and are perceived by men to be dressed more provocatively during the fertile compared to the low-fertile phase of their menstrual cycle. Results are discussed in light of these findings.

Introduction

Some evidence suggests that women's sexual desire (Pillsworth et al., 2004, Regan, 1996, Stanislaw and Rice, 1988), sexual arousability (Slob, Bax, Hop, Rowland, & van der Werff ten Bosch, 1996) and initiated sexual behavior (Adams et al., 1978, Bullivant et al., 2004) are highest prior to ovulation, when conception is most likely.

Therefore, women might be more motivated to attract the attention of men especially in these “crucial days” in the menstrual cycle, which, in the current Western ecological context, could be expressed through a sexier clothing style. This reasoning is supported by a cross-sectional study in a discotheque—a setting with high inter- and intrasexual competition (Grammer, Renninger, & Fischer, 2004). Women attending five different discotheques in Vienna (Austria) were photographed, their evaluation of their clothing style was assessed, and saliva samples were taken, which were analyzed for the hormones testosterone and estradiol. The authors found strong evidence for a correlation between women's sexual motivation and clothing. Grammer et al. (2004) also hypothesized a link between hormonal status and clothing style and found (for mated women attending the discotheques without their partner) a correlation between estradiol and reported boldness of clothing. However, estradiol varies more between women than within women. Therefore, this study probably reflects between-women effects of estradiol, rather than within-women, cycle-dependent variations in estradiol.

Another recently conducted multisession laboratory study by Haselton, Mortezaie, Pillsworth, Bleske-Rechek, and Frederick (2007) has shown systematic variations in clothing style within participants across the menstrual cycle. These authors invited their mated participants to their laboratory and took two pictures: one in the high- and one in the low-fertile phase of the participants' cycle. These two photos were given to male and female judges, who were instructed to decide (forced-choice) in which of the two photos the person was trying to look more attractive. The photo from the high-fertile phase of the cycle was chosen above chance as more attractive than the photo from the low-fertile days.

Haselton et al. (2007) proposed three hypotheses about the link between ovulation and clothing choices. First, they suggest cyclic changes in mood as one explanation. Second, women may dress more provocatively to attract mates other than their partner to gain access to good genes. From this hypothesis, we should expect changes in clothing style only in mated women. Third, women may become more sociable in general prior to ovulation, which could influence their clothing style.

The aim of the present study is to replicate and extend the findings of Haselton et al. (2007). First, we used a balanced sample of mated and single women, examining if the effect can also be found in singles. Second, we conducted a longitudinal study throughout one complete menstrual cycle, which allows for more variation in clothing style. Third, we tested the “sociability hypothesis” and examined the social activities our participants were interested in and which they had already engaged in. Additionally, we tried to replicate the findings of Haselton and Gangestad (2006), who found that women feel more attractive during the fertile days of their cycle compared to their low-fertile days.

Finally we tested if men as receivers can detect changes in clothing style. A convergence between women's self-perceived attractiveness and men's rating of their attractiveness would indicate that the women are more attractive during the fertile days of their cycle.

Specifically we expected, first of all, that women would evaluate their clothing style as more “provocative” during their high-fertile days of their cycle compared to their low-fertile phase. Second, that women perceive themselves as more attractive during their high-fertile days of their cycle compared to their low-fertile days. Third, men will perceive women's clothing style as more provocative during their high-fertile days of their cycle compared to their low-fertile days. And finally, men will perceive these women as more attractive during their high-fertile days of their cycle.

We present the results of this study in two parts: first, we analyze changes in self-perceived clothing-style and attractiveness throughout the menstrual cycle. Then we explore if these variations are perceivable by men.

Section snippets

Self-perceived clothing style and self-perceived attractiveness

The first part of this study is concerned with collecting the longitudinal data in the diaries and investigates whether women's self-perceived clothing style and self-perceived attractiveness vary throughout the menstrual cycle.

Clothing style and attractiveness

So far, we can conclude that women perceive a variation in clothing style throughout the menstrual cycle, reporting to be dressed more provocatively (clothing style more figure-hugging and sexy) during the fertile days of their cycle. However, the question remains: do men—as potential receivers—perceive these variations?

Discussion

Some evidence suggests women have an increased sexual desire during the high-fertile phase of the cycle. Therefore, we expected that as a by product of this desire (Haselton, 2006), women would change their clothing style to be more provocative. Further, we expected our participants to perceive themselves to be more attractive. We also addressed the question as to whether men as potential receivers perceive these women to be more attractive and as being more provocatively dressed.

As far as we

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a grant from the German Science Foundation to the second author; grant number HA 1173/9-1. We would like to thank Melanie Denk for her help in collecting and integrating the data.

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