May 2024 PMID 38177607

The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: Male Same-Sex Attraction as the Product of Selection for Paternal Care via Antagonistic Pleiotropy.

Thomas Felesina, Brendan Zietsch

Mentions

70
Peak: 44 in Jan 2024
across 4 sources since Jan 2024

Extended reach

250,504
potential audience

Total likes

1,801

Video views

50,802

Mentions per month

Jan 2024 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter63 posts
  • Reddit4 posts
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Bluesky1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect a generally supportive stance, with comments emphasizing the evolutionary significance of traits like femininity in males as advantageous for paternal care, supported by references to specific studies and data, and phrases like 'interesting perspective' and 'potentially transformative' highlight both curiosity and perceived importance of the research.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions support the core idea of the hypothesis, with several posts referencing studies and findings that align with the article's conclusions.

InterestHigh interest

The topic seems highly engaging, with participants showing curiosity about evolutionary explanations and implications for understanding male sexuality.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts often delve into detailed summaries of the studies, citing examples such as feminine traits linked to better paternal qualities and genetic models proposed in the research.

ImpactModerate impact

While some express skepticism, the majority recognize the potential importance of this hypothesis for advancing scientific understanding of sexuality and evolution.

Abstract in brief

  • The article proposes the "Desirable Dad Hypothesis," suggesting that genes linked to male same-sex attraction persist because they are associated with traits that make men better fathers and more desirable mates for heterosexual women.
  • Through three studies, the researchers found evidence that men with same-sex attracted relatives tend to be more feminine and possess qualities linked to better parenting, and women find feminine men more attractive and fitting as good fathers.
  • These findings support the idea that sexual selection for paternal qualities may explain the evolutionary persistence of male same-sex attraction, as traits associated with it could have provided reproductive advantages in ancestral populations.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Rolf Degen
@DegenRolf · X

The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male relatives more attractive to the female sex. https://t.co/odEuTRbBDK https://t.co/0X5Y25BGAb

Jan 6, 2024 · 165 likes · 39 shares · 69,570 followers View post →
瀧本いち華@日本性知識普及協会
@sei_takimoto · X

大前提として個人個人で好みのタイプは違うのですが モテるタイプには流行りみたいなものがあります 今年モテるのは〇〇な人! https://t.co/YUCCPMiY8s https://t.co/CJdMrv7e6C

Jan 25, 2025 · 40 likes · 1 share · 33,887 followers View post →
David Schmitt
@PsychoSchmitt · X

"heterosexual men with same-sex attracted relatives more feminine...women rated feminine male profiles as more romantically appealing, perceived feminine male profiles as depicting best fathers, masculine the worst (d = 1.56)" https://t.co/cT9cFlxTO0 https://t.co/MrEBNRvmrV

Jan 7, 2024 · 30 likes · 5 shares · 12,411 followers View post →
METODOLOGICA_CL
@metodologica_cl · X

Jun 3, 2024 · 11 likes · 1 share · 3,861 followers View post →
Larronde Esteban
@EstebanDL · X

El papá deseable Un gen que parece "equivocado" en primera instancia a la evolución, tiene funciones por otro camino Un familiar varón no homosexual, de un varón homosexual, tiene mas rasgos femeninos, que lo tornan mas "elegible" , para criar niños https://t.co/nvGdx7rIBJ https://t.co/9XV1CAMj5l

Jan 7, 2024 · 10 likes · 2 shares · 24,031 followers View post →
Erwin Schmidt
@Schmidt_Erwin · X

Feminine Fathers: "In Study 3 (N = 153), women perceived feminine male profiles as depicting the best fathers and masculine profiles the worst (d = 1.56): consistent with the idea that femininity is attractive for childcare reasons." https://t.co/CTmPWazaAE

Jan 9, 2024 · 7 likes · 1 share · 454 followers View post →

All mentions

Rohan
@Rohanburdened · X

@gynemimesis This is an explanation for homosexuality but it might fit with agp too But agp is less of a mystery bc theres less of a fertility burden, agps are mostly attracted to women so they can have kids just fine https://t.co/D0UYf4MmQU https://t.co/GKuFCTh70A

Sep 20, 2025 · 4 likes · 547 followers View post →
Rohan
@Rohanburdened · X

@lighthouseace This is supposed to be an evolutionary explanation for homosexuality but it might fit with AGP/AAP, there are some ways in which femininity in men or masculinity in women might increase fitness in people https://t.co/D0UYf4MmQU https://t.co/LqqjVsuNgp

Jul 10, 2025 · 547 followers View post →
Mike
@MikeMarshallCEO · X

@DePropaPanda @horsetowns @cremieuxrecueil 4/5 https://t.co/bqgn5LyvUr

Jun 16, 2025 · 1,039 followers View post →
Mike
@MikeMarshallCEO · X

@AVMiceliBarone @tim_tyler @RokoMijic https://t.co/bqgn5LyvUr

Jun 16, 2025 · 1,039 followers View post →
Rohan
@Rohanburdened · X

@CoasetoCoast @wivmx @ArtemisConsort Wouldnt call this "tiny bit gay" but this paper explores a hypothesis along similar lines https://t.co/D0UYf4MmQU https://t.co/pEUfsFsua6

Apr 29, 2025 · 547 followers View post →
Hadi
@alsibassi · X

@KILLTOPARTY @hollowearthterf What’s funny is she’s affirming something well studied. For long term relationships, the ‘most masculine’ archetype is not actually the most attractive for women. https://t.co/Fdtyue44ab https://t.co/T8ErIWIQR0 https://t.co/7eA9Xn1JDs

Feb 19, 2025 · 6 likes · 89 followers View post →
腹黒姫 大好き。
@haraguro_1701 · X

RT @sei_takimoto: 大前提として個人個人で好みのタイプは違うのですが モテるタイプには流行りみたいなものがあります 今年モテるのは〇〇な人! https://t.co/YUCCPMiY8s https://t.co/CJdMrv7e6C

Jan 27, 2025 · 1 share · 937 followers View post →
瀧本いち華@日本性知識普及協会
@sei_takimoto · X

大前提として個人個人で好みのタイプは違うのですが モテるタイプには流行りみたいなものがあります 今年モテるのは〇〇な人! https://t.co/YUCCPMiY8s https://t.co/CJdMrv7e6C

Jan 25, 2025 · 40 likes · 1 share · 33,887 followers View post →
Rohan
@Rohanburdened · X

@EpektasisJohn @ArtemisConsort has like 5/6 genes necessary for agp (in a highly simplified model where its 100% heritable and if you have 6 agp genes you're agp) they're more likely to have more kids for one reason or another. Maybe something like this: https://t.co/D0UYf4MUGs

Dec 9, 2024 · 2 likes · 547 followers View post →
おじさん
@r60369820 · X

男性の同性愛に適応的な利点があるかどうか考えてみたよ。同性愛者の親族がいる男性は父親としての資質と関連する。子育てにおいては男性の女性らしさが魅力的である。男性の父親的なケアに対する性的選択が関与している可能性がある。「望ましい父親仮説」を提唱するよ。https://t.co/a0fQSuf9IY

Dec 4, 2024 · 591 followers View post →
solokia.bsky.social
@solokia.bsky.social · Bluesky

I know it's not a direct response to your question but an interesting contribution I received from a friend. About the image of what is thought being perceived as attractive by women as a stereotype (mistakenly so). youtu.be/Ms7buY2O_fE?...

Nov 16, 2024 · 1 like View post →
Rohan
@Rohanburdened · X

@Steve_Sailer @LoftyGains @jeremykauffman The fact you share some of his genes predisposing towards homosexuality makes you more likely to have more opposite sex partners, and maybe being a more desirable dad https://t.co/C78LS7WUJn https://t.co/D0UYf4MmQU

Sep 8, 2024 · 1 like · 547 followers View post →
お茶柱/心理学のべレスク
@otea_stalk · X

良い父親はバランス? 望ましい父親仮説を調査 身近に非異性愛者の男性がいる異性愛者の男性は、女性らしさのスコアが高い 女性は、男性らしさと女性らしさの両方を持つ男性を最も魅力的だと評価 良い父親になりそうだと判断された https://t.co/a2XD4fqYLH

Jun 28, 2024 · 25 followers View post →
Valerio R. D.
@ValerioRD1 · X

@datepsych @lezibooks___ https://t.co/ChajGcEwlI I think this paper provides an interesting perspective on the evolutionary reason for the PERSISTENCE of ( male) homosexuality. What do you think about It?

Jun 27, 2024 · 5 likes · 4 followers View post →
CayoCornelio
@CayoCornelio · X

RT @metodologica_cl:

Jun 3, 2024 · 1 share · 2,480 followers View post →
METODOLOGICA_CL
@metodologica_cl · X

Jun 3, 2024 · 11 likes · 1 share · 3,861 followers View post →
Mofaramádé
@Nightstanddaisy · X

https://t.co/vwiIj6ell1

Jun 1, 2024 · 292 followers View post →
el under
@el_undeer · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Mar 21, 2024 · 39 shares · 69 followers View post →
Will
@WillN930 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Mar 15, 2024 · 39 shares · 33 followers View post →
Husky Lover
@KarolynFox32493 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Feb 12, 2024 · 39 shares · 99 followers View post →
Archives of Sexual Behavior
@ArchSexBehav · X

Online first in Archives of Sexual Behavior by Felesina & Zietsch (2024): The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: Male Same-Sex Attraction as the Product of Selection for Paternal Care via Antagonistic Pleiotropy https://t.co/f6JWYhjlsE @TheIASR @ZUCKERKJ

Jan 13, 2024 · 1 like · 366 followers View post →
tartaletki ✝️⚓
@consensualsoda · X

RT @Schmidt_Erwin: Feminine Fathers: "In Study 3 (N = 153), women perceived feminine male profiles as depicting the best fathers and mascu…

Jan 11, 2024 · 1 share · 42 followers View post →
chris collins
@chriscolli42272 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 9, 2024 · 39 shares · 76 followers View post →
Erwin Schmidt
@Schmidt_Erwin · X

Feminine Fathers: "In Study 3 (N = 153), women perceived feminine male profiles as depicting the best fathers and masculine profiles the worst (d = 1.56): consistent with the idea that femininity is attractive for childcare reasons." https://t.co/CTmPWazaAE

Jan 9, 2024 · 7 likes · 1 share · 454 followers View post →
Fizzeling Philosopher
@fizzeling_philo · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 8, 2024 · 39 shares · 10 followers View post →
Zoe McGill
@Zoe321081 · X

RT @PsychoSchmitt: "heterosexual men with same-sex attracted relatives more feminine...women rated feminine male profiles as more romantica…

Jan 8, 2024 · 5 shares · 268 followers View post →
Mark Van Vugt
@markvanvugt1 · X

RT @PsychoSchmitt: "heterosexual men with same-sex attracted relatives more feminine...women rated feminine male profiles as more romantica…

Jan 8, 2024 · 5 shares · 2,402 followers View post →
DemeterK
@XPatriote · X

"Same-sex attraction, a heritable trait with a reproductive cost..." "We posit the "desirable dad hypothesis," which proposes that alleles linked to male non-heterosexual orientations increase traits conducive to childcare" https://t.co/02ude6UoGx

Jan 8, 2024 · 2 likes · 144 followers View post →
Dhillon Selva
@dhillonselva · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 8, 2024 · 39 shares · 30 followers View post →
Michael Moncrieff
@Mike_Moncrieff · X

RT @PsychoSchmitt: "heterosexual men with same-sex attracted relatives more feminine...women rated feminine male profiles as more romantica…

Jan 7, 2024 · 5 shares · 289 followers View post →
Paul Hawkins
@Paulrhawk · X

RT @PsychoSchmitt: "heterosexual men with same-sex attracted relatives more feminine...women rated feminine male profiles as more romantica…

Jan 7, 2024 · 5 shares · 93 followers View post →
David Schmitt
@PsychoSchmitt · X

"heterosexual men with same-sex attracted relatives more feminine...women rated feminine male profiles as more romantically appealing, perceived feminine male profiles as depicting best fathers, masculine the worst (d = 1.56)" https://t.co/cT9cFlxTO0 https://t.co/MrEBNRvmrV

Jan 7, 2024 · 30 likes · 5 shares · 12,411 followers View post →
Μιχαηλίδης Γιάννης
@IMichailidis · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 7, 2024 · 39 shares · 215 followers View post →
Eduardo Roque
@Barroque_ · X

The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: Male Same-Sex Attraction as the Product of Selection for Paternal Care via Antagonistic Pleiotropy | Archives of Sexual Behavior https://t.co/Q938YsgXg0

Jan 7, 2024 · 182 followers View post →
JP
@JaimePe53406616 · X

RT @EstebanDL: El papá deseable Un gen que parece "equivocado" en primera instancia a la evolución, tiene funciones por otro camino Un fa…

Jan 7, 2024 · 2 shares · 17 followers View post →
MIRIAM OLMOS
@lupismog · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 7, 2024 · 39 shares · 60 followers View post →
Andres Felipe
@Anferupu · X

RT @EstebanDL: El papá deseable Un gen que parece "equivocado" en primera instancia a la evolución, tiene funciones por otro camino Un fa…

Jan 7, 2024 · 2 shares · 51 followers View post →
Larronde Esteban
@EstebanDL · X

El papá deseable Un gen que parece "equivocado" en primera instancia a la evolución, tiene funciones por otro camino Un familiar varón no homosexual, de un varón homosexual, tiene mas rasgos femeninos, que lo tornan mas "elegible" , para criar niños https://t.co/nvGdx7rIBJ https://t.co/9XV1CAMj5l

Jan 7, 2024 · 10 likes · 2 shares · 24,031 followers View post →
NU PW
@NUPW628515 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 7, 2024 · 39 shares · 136 followers View post →
Carlos
@lonar2 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 7, 2024 · 39 shares · 1,814 followers View post →
Elisa de la Nuez
@elisadelanuez · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 7, 2024 · 39 shares · 12,259 followers View post →
Brian King
@KingOrleans · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 982 followers View post →
Rafe
@28Raloz · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 776 followers View post →
William McCandlish
@WilliamMcCandli · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 319 followers View post →
MM
@MsMaiaMarsh · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 321 followers View post →
Gabriel Aguilar
@a_rgabriel · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 85 followers View post →
CesarGon
@verdewek · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 1,714 followers View post →
Anton Musil
@BlkoJa · X

Studie zde https://t.co/mJHjIupZ5W

Jan 6, 2024 · 2 likes · 3,795 followers View post →
Ian
@IanAdAstra · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 4,083 followers View post →
DHacker615
@dhacker615 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 787 followers View post →
Bipartisan Alliance
@jorgemata · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 185 followers View post →
Aquiles
@Sapiensbici · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 179 followers View post →
chindogu
@IIlIIIllIll · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 3,570 followers View post →
JV
@IASturgeon42 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 254 followers View post →
kaveinology
@kaveinthran · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 1,111 followers View post →
E7-87-83
@e7_87 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 56 followers View post →
Conde Sodomita
@MunaroRenan · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 39 followers View post →
Roman Chlebec
@Dmagician · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 317 followers View post →
John Wilkins
@JohnWilkinspsyc · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 1,630 followers View post →
Rudy
@fartrakht · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 398 followers View post →
π
@slutreplik · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 3,767 followers View post →
Skeen7908
@skeen7908 · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 83 followers View post →
Pugnator Fidei ✝️⚓️
@Mutamilowya · X

RT @DegenRolf: The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male r…

Jan 6, 2024 · 39 shares · 463 followers View post →
Rolf Degen
@DegenRolf · X

The Desirable Dad Hypothesis: The predisposition to male homosexuality may persist in the population because it makes male relatives more attractive to the female sex. https://t.co/odEuTRbBDK https://t.co/0X5Y25BGAb

Jan 6, 2024 · 165 likes · 39 shares · 69,570 followers View post →
A recent study has found that slightly feminine men tend to have ...
Reddit

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-023-02780-7. From the linked article: A recent study published in the Archives of Sexual ...

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Tuore tutkimus on paljastanut, että hieman feminiinisillä miehillä on ...
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https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-023-02780-7. Linkitetystä artikkelista: Äskettäin Archives of Sexual Behavior -lehdessä ...

Jun 1, 2024 View →
最近の研究で、少しフェミニンな男性は、短期的な性的パートナー ...
Reddit

com/article/10.1007/s10508-023-02780-7. リンク先の記事から:. Archives of Sexual Behaviorに掲載された最近の研究によると、少し女性的な男性は ...

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com/article/10.1007/s10508-023-02780-7. 从链接的文章中:. 最近发表在《性行为档案》上的一项研究发现,略带女性气质的男性往往与女性建立长期浪漫 ...

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