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Nearly 4,800 women participated in an experiment in they were given two pictures of faces and they were to pick the one that they found more attractive and indicate how much they preferred it to the other one.

They could predict how masculine a woman likes her men based on her nation's World Health Organization statistics for mortality rates, life expectancy and the impact of communicable disease. In countries where poor health is particularly a threat to survival, women leaned toward "manlier" men. That is, they preferred their males to have shorter, broader faces and stronger eyebrows, cheekbones and jaw lines. The researchers went on to publish the study in this month's issue of the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences.

The link from masculinity, a good male, and health is testosterone, the hormone behind manly muscles, strong jaws, prominent eyebrow ridges, facial hair and deep voices; And also related to strength: fitness, fertility and dominance. From an evolutionary perspective, masculinity is basically man's way of advertising good genes, dominance and likelihood to father healthier kids.

A typical example of the comparison between a masculine man and a feminine man. Kazu Matsuda (Masculine) Louis XIV (Feminine)

The Price of Masculinity Women often think of high-testosterone types as uncooperative, unsympathetic, philandering, aggressive and disinterested in parenting. In fact, there is evidence that they really do have more relationship problems than other men.

In a study of 2,100 Air Force veterans, men with testosterone levels one standard deviation above the mean: 43% more likely to get divorced than men with normal levels 31% more likely to leave home because of marital problems 38% more likely to cheat on their wives 13% more likely to admit that they hit or hurled things at them A woman might be attracted subconsciously to a high- testosterone man because he'll give her kids an edge health-wise. But if health comes at the expense of fidelity and good parenting

Where does the U.S. stand in the masculinity ranking? Fifth out of the 30 countries in the study, one of the highest. Twentieth of 30 countries, one of the least healthy in the health index rating.

A social shift that devalues masculinity? In 1970, women represented only 43.3% of workers in the labor force, compared to 55.8% today. The recession in America has been a tremendous blow to men in traditionally masculine jobs such as construction and manufacturing 82% of job losses affect men. Right now in the U.S. many families find themselves economically dependent on one working parent: Mom. Over 70% of mothers have jobs outside the home. No longer as reliant on men to ensure the health and wealth of their children, women may come to value other qualities in a mate.

Conclusion As American women become increasingly secure economically, socially and medically, they become more financially independent. Therefore, their preference for good-looking men increases. So will it be considered progress if women start pursuing "metrosexuals"—impeccable guys who exfoliate, order salads for dinner and carry man purses? "Women's liberation is the liberation of the feminine in the man and the masculine in the woman.” -Corita Kent (artist)