J Evol Biol November 2016 PMID 27488414

The masculinity paradox: facial masculinity and beardedness interact to determine women's ratings of men's facial attractiveness.

B J W Dixson, D Sulikowski, A Gouda-Vossos, M J Rantala, R C Brooks

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Mentions

209

Peak: 10 in Oct 2024

across 6 sources since Jan 2019

Extended reach

720,526

potential audience

Total likes

14,117

Video views

331,626

Mentions per month

Jan 2019 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall conversations revolve around how beard styles and facial masculinity influence attractiveness ratings, with examples like comments on heavy stubble being most attractive and bearded men preferred for long-term relationships. The tone varies from casual endorsements to scientific references, indicating active engagement and recognition of the study's relevance to social and romantic dynamics.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions reflect agreement that facial hair and masculinity traits influence attractiveness, consistent with the article's findings.

InterestHigh interest

Many posts show high interest by citing studies, analyzing implications, and discussing relationship contexts, indicating engagement with the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

Users actively reference research results, recommend videos, and debate social implications, demonstrating meaningful engagement beyond surface-level opinions.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest that the research influences perceptions about masculinity and attractiveness, especially in relation to long-term versus short-term preferences.

Abstract in brief

The study explores how facial masculinity and beardedness influence women's ratings of men's attractiveness, revealing that different traits are preferred for short-term versus long-term relationships.
Findings indicate that masculinity and facial hair interact to affect attractiveness, with extreme masculinity or femininity being less attractive, and facial hair boosting attractiveness more for long-term relationships.
Overall, women tend to prefer more balanced facial features, and the context of the relationship influences their attractiveness ratings, with facial hair playing a significant role in long-term appeal.]

Read the full abstract

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RT @moy_qmac: @CitVenus @VeryLittleRed El tipo era un black piller. Meter a todos los incels en el mismp saco seria como meter a todas las…

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Dr. Practicón

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@CitVenus @VeryLittleRed El tipo era un black piller. Meter a todos los incels en el mismp saco seria como meter a todas las feministas o socialistas en el mismp sco. Hay femisnitas que activamente desprecian a los hombres, sonnun grupo pequeño, nuevamente recomiendo este video https://t.co/eQGz6xDjo5

Sep 26, 2025 · 1 like · 1 share · 7,473 followers View post →

Dr. Practicón

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@CitVenus @VeryLittleRed Elliot Roger es de los primerps red y black pillers. Los Black pill se tiran al derrotismo..... Le recomiendo este video donde se explican sus diferencias. https://t.co/eQGz6xDjo5

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Fran.cy

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@juliocba2 @Minoru_Trix Oh! Mira! Creo que ya sé donde sacas todos esos temas de la hipergamia sin sustento, este canal médico es muy bueno ✨️ https://t.co/0ryuYpwzQ9

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The

@TheLordJoshua1 · X

@EnzaroV @tontos_ball Sorpresa, las ideaologias conservadores generalmente son machistas, y ejemplos hay dos: la rep pill y black pill Hay un buen video sobre el tema: https://t.co/aSVBEyzBgZ

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Grey Wolf

@GreyWolffiction · X

@AportaOAparta3 @1MoonManyStars https://t.co/ILpg0GDKW4 De hecho, los estudios hechos al respecto dicen otras cosas. Acá se expone eso bien.

Apr 1, 2025 · 1 like · 79 followers View post →

Luna

@LunaMonett · X

@A4815162342Z @Cell_Officiall No encontré un video pequeño q explique pero conoces a Espartaco18? Son personas q tienen un pensamiento similar al d él Tienen como ciertos sesgos y generalizan acorde al género. https://t.co/0q7yYFmHun https://t.co/mqwBI30moZ

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@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/vp38inzYOK

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@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/6D5Tr4zbYn

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@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/5gLLIWjKiQ

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@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/1f85mpgPNa

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@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/7D5esMbSCv

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@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/i3SkhdHleb

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@BlueCinder46 · X

@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/jeyWtOt2NR

Oct 8, 2024 · 1 like · 17 followers View post →

BlueCinder

@BlueCinder46 · X

@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/pObavl46Qm

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BlueCinder

@BlueCinder46 · X

@3HuntLe0 https://t.co/DPyx1YSNqx

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Memory

@MemoryUnloaded · X

I read this last night, interesting for sure..... https://t.co/XtKUW3hLNJ

Sep 19, 2024 · 202 followers View post →

Ben Andrews

@AirPancake23 · X

RT @MackenMurphy: Source of graph btw: https://t.co/U6HyZHkFoj

Sep 18, 2024 · 1 share · 224 followers View post →

Macken

@MackenMurphy · X

Source of graph btw: https://t.co/U6HyZHkFoj

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Hacker News 中文精选

@HackerNewsZh · X

面部男子气概和胡须决定了男性吸引力的评分。 Facial masculinity and beardedness determine ratings of men's attractiveness

Jun 9, 2023 · 3,558 followers View post →

HEM News Agency

@halfeatenmind · X

https://t.co/elUX2efG1r

Jun 8, 2023 · 4,147 followers View post →

Jeremy Lu

@thecat · X

Jun 8, 2023 · 8 likes · 10,415 followers View post →

Winson Tang

@winsontang · X

Facial masculinity and beardedness determine ratings of men's attractiveness https://t.co/gVrR7FREmJ

Jun 8, 2023 · 9,042 followers View post →

Sofia Gkiousou

@sofiagk · X

@IoannisGrammati Και όμως, υπάρχει. "Results showed a significant interaction between beardedness and masculinity on attractiveness ratings." https://t.co/eHh1BYu6wY

Mar 29, 2023 · 2 likes · 7,507 followers View post →

матушка Левыйджойн

@JeanVolfovich · X

У меня на эту тему есть РИСЕРЧ https://t.co/OWCcLRDZWI https://t.co/HK9fZNt936

Mar 27, 2023 · 3 likes · 561 followers View post →

Hannes Penttilä

@hannes__solo · X

@MattilaKarita Luin kuin piru raamattua: "Our findings suggest that beardedness may be attractive when judging long-term relationships as a signal of intrasexual formidability and the potential to provide direct benefits to females." https://t.co/3J2QOvhDME

Dec 16, 2021 · 1 like · 177 followers View post →

матушка Левыйджойн

@JeanVolfovich · X

@LordOfBoredom @meowthsli Да вообще читерство https://t.co/OWCcLRDZWI

May 18, 2021 · 561 followers View post →

Irene Davis

@RomMFA · X

Results: "Masculine faces were judged as least attractive, followed by feminized faces, with unmanipulated faces rated most attractive...beards may mask the unattractive features of having overly feminine or masculine face shapes." https://t.co/sJ82xaF7pZ

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Hairloss Experiences

@Hairtransplant_ · X

RT @BessamFarjo: Apparently ‘heavy stubble’ is most attractive! Full beards & clean-shaven are least | The masculinity paradox: facial masc…

Apr 12, 2020 · 1 share · 2,339 followers View post →

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Letitsoy@derecho.uba.ar

@chita_la_lesera · X

@_jwe Naa, par favaar! Barbetas y barbudos son los más sexies y galantes. Y no lo digo yo... https://t.co/LWC7gwk05S

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Laura

@leschmit · X

This study found that sexual selection may shape preference in women when looking at male androgenic secondary sex traits-facial hair. Results showed women prefer light & heavy stubble faces more than full beards and clean shaven faces. #MUevolution20 https://t.co/9KkAHxxRjM

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Sarah Boggs

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#DidYouKnow

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Jun

@jun_10_24 · X

男らしさ masculine は短期的なパートナーとして女性から好まれるが、男らしさと関連するヒゲはむしろ長期的なパートナーとして好まれる。なぜこうしたパラドクスが生じるのか？https://t.co/qB2LKsrpPG

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Eli

@egarrif · X

@pitiklinov Las mujeres lo prefieren. https://t.co/9ZX7jJ5UjO

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Fiona Kloosterman

@GewoonFiona · X

@Sandra7Sunshine @PeterterHorst https://t.co/uUmXRXpguo onderzoekje. Mannen met baarden zijn de goden op aarde

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tired

@WheelsnToys · X

RT @GwinyaiMasukume: @sindivanzyl "However, masculine faces are judged as more attractive for short‐term relationships over less masculine…

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Duchess of Healing

@sindivanzyl · X

RT @GwinyaiMasukume: @sindivanzyl "However, masculine faces are judged as more attractive for short‐term relationships over less masculine…

May 4, 2019 · 3 shares · 272,141 followers View post →

Gwinyai Masukume

@GwinyaiMasukume · X

May 4, 2019 · 3 likes · 3 shares · 778 followers View post →

quiet55

@OriginalWriter5 · X

المصدر الأصلي للدراسة من مجلة علم الأحياء التطوري The masculinity paradox: facial masculinity and beardedness interact to determine women's ratings of men's facial attractiveness - Dixson - 2016 - Journal of Evolutionary Biology - Wiley Online Library https://t.co/k23ud07a4i

Apr 14, 2019 · 1,180 followers View post →

Mary Gerdt Parler:Alvarita1

@marygerdt · X

The masculinity paradox: facial masculinity and beardedness interact to determine women's ratings of men's facial attractiveness - Dixson - 2016 - Journal of Evolutionary Biology - Wiley Online Library ⁦@JulietHuddyTV⁩ ⁦@curtisandjuliet⁩ https://t.co/rBH2tYqDa1

Apr 10, 2019 · 5,830 followers View post →

Ultimoprezzo

@Ultimoprezzo · X

Uno studio scientifico su 8.500 donne ha dimostrato che tutte preferiscono gli uomini con la barba. Se al momento ne siete sprovvisti ecco una soluzione

Jan 17, 2019 · 4,584 followers View post →

That Other Boi

@ThatOtherBoi · X

RT @DegenRolf: Women prefer masculine-faced men for flings and the bearded for long-term relationships. https://t.co/CN16ARda3L https://t.c…

Jan 6, 2019 · 6 shares · 348 followers View post →

The masculinity paradox: facial masculinity and beardedness interact to determine women's ratings of men's facial attractiveness.

Mentions per month

Where it's discussed

What people are saying

Abstract in brief

Top posts

All mentions

Debunking Redpill and Blackpill Myths with Scientific Evidence

Study Reveals Women's Preference for Men's Facial Hair

Understanding Women's Preferences: Scientific Insights