According to one study , women are less likely to say yes to a picture of a man holding a cat . That’s the conclusion of a thoroughly counterintuitive study (do women not like cats?) From Colorado State University. The study surveyed a total of 708 women between the ages of 18 and 24 in an online experiment.
What happens is, according to the authors, that men who held cats were seen as less masculine, more neurotic, personable and open, and less friendly. That is, the findings are likely the result of ingrained cultural stereotypes about dog and cat owners.
Lack of masculinity
In the study, when a group of women were shown the cat-free image of one of the subjects, 38% of the women said they were likely or very likely to date him occasionally, while 37% said they would consider a serious relationship with him.
But a picture of the same man holding a cat made female respondents reflect, and those numbers dropped to 33% for each category. Meanwhile, the proportion of women who said they would never consider getting involved with him rose from 9% to 14% .
In comparison, the positive ratings for the second subject did not decrease significantly when he was photographed with a cat, but women were more likely to dismiss him as a potential mate .
When photographed alone, 40% of those surveyed said it would be unlikely or safe for them not to go out with him occasionally. But it rose to 45% when a cat joined it. Similarly, 41% said it would be unlikely they would consider him for a relationship, but 45% said the same when they saw him with the pet .
Thinness
Everything seems like stereotypes, according to the authors, as happens with that of a woman with cats , which is culturally associated with a woman with mental problems (the crazy one with cats):
Cat owners did not differ from others in symptoms of depression, anxiety, or their experiences in close relationships. Our findings, therefore, do not fit with the notion that cat owners are more depressed, anxious, or lonely.
Mutatis mutandis, photographs of slim women also tend to be more successful among the male market because that image carries cultural stereotypes, in addition to pressing the key of the handicap principle (the traits of sexual selection act as signs of ostentation, showing the ability to afford to waste a resource simply by waste), either by suggesting that being slim is exclusive as it is, for men, to drive a cock-car :