Paternal Investment and Economic Inequality Predict Cross-Cultural Variation in Male Choice

Evolution and Human Behavior • Vol/Iss. 46(6) • Elsevier • • Published In • Pages: 1-7 •
By Kim, Jun-Hong

Abstract

Through certain lenses, cosmetics can be seen as a cultural manipulation of conspicuous traits in both women and men largely because it increases perceived biological fitness. Rooted in Darwinian theories of sexual selection, this author uses the size of a country’s cosmetics industry as a proxy for male mating choice. Attempting to rework sexual selection for the modern age, Kim collects and tests potential predictors of the cosmetic industry and male choice, setting the tone for future research.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
World BankOther ResearchersRelative labor force participation by gender
World Economic ForumOther ResearchersSocial mobility index
EuromonitorOther ResearchersSize of cosmetics industry in each country
OECDOther ResearchersMale to female ratio of unpaid domestic and childcare hours
CIAOther ResearchersEconomic inequality
United NationsOther ResearchersGender inequality, urbanization, GDP per capita, and Human Development Index

Hypotheses (1)

HypothesisSupported
The cosmetics industry will be larger in nations with a female-biased operational sex ratio (OSR), the low ratio of female-to-male childcare hours (= substantial paternal investment), high economic inequality, high social mobility, low female labor force participation rate, high gender inequality and high encounter rate (= high population density)Partial Support
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: hattie.berke