Women attracted to men who like children

A glance is enough for a woman’s subconscious “radar” to detect a man’s suitability as a mate, AFP reported, quoting research published on Wednesday in a British science journal.

Women find men with high testosterone levels and masculine faces attractive but see them as short-term prospects, while men with an interest in children had long-term prospects as potential husbands.

However, this was separate from women’s appreciation for a “kind” face, according to the Royal Society Biological Sciences journal.

Researchers in the United States tested 39 male undergraduate University of California students of different ethnicities for their testosterone levels and affinity with children.

The men were shown pairs of pictures - one depicting an adult and the other a baby - and asked which they preferred.Five demonstarted no interest in the baby images, while the rest showed a range of preferences. Some were exclusively drawn to the pictures of infants.

The scientists took photos of each man displaying a neutral expression which were then shown to 29 women students. The women rated the pictures on whether they thought the men liked children, or appeared masculine, physically attractive, or kind.

During my varsity days, a friend of a friend used to remark that I have "a very kind face". She waited for months for me to tackle her before sending me a message through her friend to my friend (confused yet?): "I can't wait for you forever. Someone else is interested in me. Ask me out now or lose me." I wasn't interested, so I let her go.

During my first few years at work, a few aunties remarked that I'll "make a great husband". One tried to matchmake me with her daughter, a snobbish UM graduate working for a Big Five accounting firm.

Argghh ... why can't I have a face that makes women tear off their clothes and throw themselves at me?

But all that is water under the bridge. Age, bitterness and abuses of various kinds (do I need to spell them out) have since left their mark on me. On my bad days, I looked like something that the dog dragged in. On my good days ... well, not so bad. Still leng chai. Just need to smile a bit more. Lose that angry look.

As for the part about women being attracted to men who like children, I like making babies. Does that count?