The title of this post comes from a Yahoo Answers thread I found this morning. The question was “Are men really attracted to curves?” There have been plenty of times when I’ve flipped through a magazine and read something like “80% of men prefer curvy women,” but I guess my question has always been “what do you mean by curvy?”
The 1985 song “Digital Display” by Ready For The World describes the “perfect” woman as a 36-24-36 which I assume means a woman with a 36-inch breast circumference, 24-inch waist and 36-inch hip circumference. This would give the “perfect” woman a waist-hip circumference of about 66% which is a very desirable size to many American men according to this study.
So sure, it seems many men like a little “junk in the trunk” as one of the yahoo answers men describes it, but what I’m suggesting is this: most men like a certain type of curvy woman. As one of the yahoo answers men said “A Happy medium is best. A thin girl with nice curves is the ideal for most men….including myself.”
Curvy women come in all shapes and sizes, some are thin and some are not, so I’m not sure its safe to make a sweeping statement like most men like curves, its too ambiguous and like I said before, I think that its not so much that men like curves necessarily, but that they like certain type of curves.
“Digital Display” Love that song. Love that group.
I don’t really understand the point behind asking such questions. Why do women do that to themselves? So we find out what some random internet guys think their ideal woman is like and do what with that? And what is a “real man” as opposed to a not real man?
I think its pretty much impossible to to say what men like. I think its incredibly insulting to say that “real” men like anything– for some men like thin women, some men like fat women, some men like muscley women, some men like muscle-y men. Or fat men. Or thin men.
I don’t understand why magazines think its a good idea to publish these articles– I can hardly believe that they can say 80% of all men like a certain type of woman’s figure– since they are obviously leaving out homosexual men, who don’t prefer any type of woman’s figure, ya know?
I actually prefer a short woman who is good and thick. While the size 36 breasts are ok, they aren’t my favorite thing. I do like some “junk in the trunk” as was so aptly pointed out in your blog. I also like about a size 26 or 28 waiste. That’s me, that’s what I like. That doesn’t mean that all guys like that, so I agree with you. You can’t generalize the “perfect” curvy woman nor can you really define curvy. Everyone has their own definitions of curvy and what is the perfect shape. And for the guy talking about homosexual men, how do you know some of them don’t admire the fine figure of a curvy woman? You are also making a generalization, which isn’t exactly accurate. While I myself am not gay, my cousin Mark is. And while he may like “playing” with the boys, he still enjoys the beauty that is the female form, he just doesn’t “play” with them (his words, not mine.)
My lady is curvy. And not turbo-skinny. I’d say average-ish. I mean, the most beautiful woman in the world, of course, but I like curves.
I agree with York and Yellowhammer. What matters most is not what men like in a woman’s physique, but how much a woman loves herself, no matter what her size.
i think she’s just using the title based on the yahoo answer’s question. As a man, i would say man up and don’t get so offended by “real” man. LOL funny reactions.
I’m female.
It’s not that I mind the generalizations as I am genuinely asking what one is to glean from them? It’s like there being a survey that says xx% of “real” mean prefer brunettes. Am I to go dye my hair to please them? Or if I were a brunette would I be happy about the result? As for “real” I was wondering how a man is anything but and wondered what the need for the distinction was.
I think articles like that are a poor, misguided attempt to make women feel better about themselves. But it’s a narrow-minded effort: it’ll only make those women who look like the supposed “ideal” feel better about themselves. The rest of us are stuck knowing that we’re not “good enough.”
But I agree with yellowhammer: it’s too broad a generalization, anyway. My husband would say that he likes curvy women, but his definition of curvy and another man’s might be totally opposite. My husband would think a 36-24-36 woman was too THIN. (As an example.) People’s preferences (both men and women) are too varied to be able to lump them all into a generalization.
You’ve pretty much hit the nail on the head with this post. What is “Curvy?” It’s surely not an objective thing, but I think most guys (Me being one of them) have at least concepts behind what they mean by the term.
I like women of all sizes, and I don’t believe curvy is a size exclusive term as much as it deals with shape, appearance, and so forth. Again, I think there’s certain cues, but there’s women of various sizes that I would describe as curvy and non.
(Are comments here moderated? Please consider removing the transphobic comment by hope 505, above.)
I did a post about this at my blog, where a survey claimed that men preferred a woman who was curvy and a size 10.
One guy said (in comments about the survey) that anything above a size four was “too big.” OK then…..
Another guy said, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder. to heck with everyone else.”
Personally, I think that should be the motto of every gal. However, the poll that went with the post had a majority vote of the “ideal” size being a four or lower, which is nearly impossible for most women without the development of an eating disorder. You would have to be genetically geared toward such a small size. Women need to embrace what Nature gave ’em, instead of fighting it for superficial norms commanded by a society with no ethics.
(The average American woman is a size 14 and weighs 140 pounds, with an average bust size of 36C.)
Surveys like this disappoint me… not only for the fact that “curvy” can range from being fat to conventionally pornographic (i.e. unnatural), but also for the fact that the emphasis is still on women’s appearances. Men don’t love women for anything besides their thinness or curviness? I don’t care if I fit a guy’s idea of curviness perfectly. If that’s all that’s appealing to him about me, then I’m out the door.
I think that a “Real Man” will love a woman for who she is, not if she has curves or not. I have more then curves. And my husband loves every inch of me. Rolls and all. He is a real man. And a real man knows how to please a real woman.
It just sucks that we even need to have this conversation. Its all about personal choice. Some guys like bigger woman some dont.
Having said that I always wonder what woman think of thin vs muscly vs big guys.
[…] up discussing if men prefer curvy or non curvy woman. Both of these posts are good btw and they are here and here. But what about the other way around. I have always heard that ‘its ok to be big if […]
I think articles like that are just to fill space, or create chatter. I don’t take it all that seriously.
And (with apologies to men reading this) I seriously doubt if many men have any idea what “size 4” or “size 10” means. They may know as much as what size their own girlfriend or wife (says she) wears, but that’s about it. Hell, even I can’t tell by looking at someone. Or even by measurements, apparenlty. Sarah posts that the average woman is 140 lbs, size 14, 36C bra. I can’t quite figure that out, as someone who weighs 145 lbs, wears size 10, and a 36C. What that says to me is that a size is an approximate guide for a shopper who is trying to buy clothes. Two people of nearly the same weight and hell, even the same size bra, can wear very different clothing sizes.
To me, I think this article is in response to the trend of Hollywood, the modeling industry, and the porn industry glamorizing the body shape of pre-pubescent girls. If you notice, this trend began to rise at about the same time as bikini waxing. There’s a lot of emphasis on looking young these days. And while I have nothing against natural thinness or bikini waxing, I think it gets a little disturbing when we take it too far. Remember all the countdowns by grown, adult men that anticipated the 18th birthdays of Britney Spears and the Olsen twins? Disturbing, no?
To Laurajeanette: If there is emphasis on looking young, why can’t I tell the difference between a 10 year old girl and a 35 year old woman? That bothers me. Are the young looking older, or the old looking too young? Are men really that turned on by women who look *that* young? Disgusting.
To Tiffabee: I agree that that subject is too ambitious. Its like saying “humans enjoy tasty food” Um, ok. We all have a different flavor. I personally can find something physically beautiful in just about everyone. A beautiful smile, a nice butt, great legs, eyes, hair, hands, something. But that’s just physical.
Perhaps this article was more to help women relax a little about the stresses of the media forcing them to try another diet, starve themselves, or ‘purge that half of turkey sandwich! No one loves you fatty!’
I believe beauty comes out more when you love yourself. When you can accept yourself and really, truly love you for you. When you understand your faults are what make you unique, you’ll shine more beautifully to others than a bo-toxed size 00 waist 36C breasted just bleached your teeth white to the point of frailty, “super” model.
I think the picture of the girl is gorgeous. She has a wonderful figure.
& Sarah: color me average, girrrlll!!
::snaps a Z !! ::
I love it.
& oops looks like I forgot to close my italics. please don’t h8 me 4 bad html.
*hahahahahahaaaaaaaa!!* HAPPY FRIDAY remember to eat a cheeseburger this weekend!
smackythefrog- you make a good point. Maybe it’s a little of both. We all just want to be 18. 🙂 Miley Cyrus is an example of a 15 yr. old girl who looks way older. And last year’s Playmate of the Year Sara Underwood is an example of a woman trying to look younger (or a magazine trying to make her appear younger to appeal to its male audience). I just find the whole trend (from both ends of the spectrum) disturbing.
Fascinating subject. Luckily for us all, people are attracted to different things. While the “variance” is probably less, overall when talking about what men like as compared to what women like, at least there is still no ONE perfect way that a woman HAS to look to be attractive. A lot of it has to do with the way she carries herself and dresses. I’ve been attracted to both “curvy women” and also fairly “straight” non-curvy ones. Anyway, great blog!
AMEN,
I’m tired of the media telling us EVERYONE needs to be the same size.
LOL hope505 is hilarious!!!!
“And I think ‘real men’ is probably meant to imply heterosexual, non-celebrity, full-grown men who have a natural healthy interest in the female form.” ~ hope505
I just randomly came across this post and all I have to say is that men like what they like. Its all up to the man to say what he like. The only thing that article states is that if all man were average they’d like curvy women. That really is a loaded statement like “Does this dress make me look fat?” Doesn’t matter what the guy says its up to the woman who asked the question.
The term curvy women is ambiguous. The curve part can be at any part of the body, I’m sure you know what I mean. It’s said that 36-24-36 is the magic number, how about 24-36-24, it’s sound pretty curvy too right?
For me, I don’t care women’s measurements and where their curves are. I’ve attracted to women with different sizes. As long as they’re confident with themselves (in a good way), they look good for me.
i don’t really know what most men like, but i can tell you that generally men are either into breasts or butts. i’m not too particular about measurements, but i must say that i have a preference for women with round butts and prominent hips.
Hi, can you edit my comment I made last night? Because I was sleepy, I didn’t proofread what I wrote.
On the second paragraph, second sentence, I wrote “I’ve attracted to…,” it should’ve been “I’ve been attracted to…”
Thanks 🙂
Y’know, I used to really worry about what men liked and drove myself to the brink of a nervous breakdown trying to make myself fit some generic model of perfect feminine form. At one point I think I actually was a 36-24-36, but when I think about it I pretty much existed on a diet of lots of alcohol and no food. Now that I’m older, definitely more curvier, and supposedly wiser — and having just finished reading an awesome book on self acceptance, Embracing Your Big Fat Ass — I’ve decided it doesn’t matter what men in general think of me. It only matters what I think of me, and that one special someone. And if/when our paths cross, as long as I love me, then he’ll love me just the way I am … extra curves ‘n’ all. 😉
…As long as they’re confident with themselves (in a good way), they look good for me….
whut th’.. just curious: what is confident in yourself in a bad way..? *haha!*
anti-confidence is the new confidence!!
and, mr. harris, very true.
O & thank you taydizzle…*heehee!*
even though my trannyPHOBIC comments have been removed, you know and I know where that discussion was going.
I rescind my Z-snap, as well. I’m just not feeling as sassy being censored.
I found your site on technorati and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. I just added your RSS feed to my Google News Reader. Looking forward to reading more from you down the road!
With so many closeted everywhere, i think thats a good way to find out about a guys atraction rate to women. If you stay with a guy and he complains all the time about the fact that your but is too big, or that you have too many curves, or hair looks dry, i mean just too many complains about you, there is a high chance your not the one bothering him, but his own sexuality.
Humm by the way this dress made the girl look twice her size, and killed her natural forms makking her look like a pink brick. She would look better using something that calls atention to the clivage or one side of her body (the detail would look better anywhere in the proportion 1/3 of her body, rigth below her breast on left or rigth side) and the lines should be horizontal not vertical. Its not about making her look thiner, just making women look sexier by exploring good points of her body.
If you are a woman asking the question, in general, do you and all of your friends find the same exact type of man attractive? Some into fatties? Or skinny guys, or in betweens? It’s the same game with guys. Simple as that.
I am really sick and tired of looking at these pencil thin models who look just so pathetic and so sick.
I do have meat on my bones, but hey my boyfriend loves me and just can’t get enough of my meat.
REAL MEN LOVE WOMEN WITH CURVES, AND DON’T FORGET THAT!!!!
I have no problem answering this question: Yes! I LOVE full bosomed, trim waisted, full butt-hipped, curvy women!
I think bigger women are gorgeous why,because everything on them is real sorry I don’t like plastic,natural boobs nice pink areola,and a butt, and nice big clit is todie for……….
hey guys! i am a size 12/14 woman and to be honest with you, it doesnt bother me if guys like my body or not! if guys want a pack of bones and fake boobs, be my guest! u r just missing out on all the fun u could be having with me! haha! and if guys r too blind to see that there is more than outer looks to a woman, then it is their loss!