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Blame My Marilyn Monroe Hormone

Wed, 01/14/2009 - 09:02
Submitted by Carlin Ross

I knew my body had a mind of its own but I didn't know why. SCIENTISTS have identified the Marilyn Monroe hormone that is linked to an hour-glass shape in women, and also an increased desire to trade-up to new men.

Women who have high levels of oestradoil also show elevated confidence and a greater inclination to have sex outside of their current relationship, according to the US-based research.  The ovarian steroid hormone is also associated with having a symmetrical face, large breasts and a low waist-to-hip ratio.

"Marilyn Monroe is actually a really good example of a woman who was almost certainly high in oestradoil," Australian sexologist Dr Frances Quirk said in response to the research.

"She was a classic hour-glass figure and because of her relationship pattern - she was a serial monogamist.

"Her relationships last three or four years or slightly longer, and if you look at the men she had relationships with, they increased in status."

The University of Texas study took in 52 young women, aged 17 to 30, and checked their oestradoil levels using a saliva swab.  They were asked to rate themselves on perceived desirability, quizzed on their sexual motivations and also their inclinations relating to their current relationship.  An independent group also assessed photographs of the women to provide an external assessment of their attractiveness.

"High-oestradiol women were considered significantly more physically attractive by themselves and others," the study, published in the journal Biology Letters, concluded.

"These women reported somewhat lower levels of satisfaction with and commitment to their primary partners, and a significantly greater likelihood ... of becoming acquainted with new potential mates."

The study found while high-oestradiol women reported being "significantly more likely" to have a serious affair, they did not indicate a greater likelihood of having "brief sexual encounters".  They favour long-term relationships but are "not easily satisfied by their long-term partners and are especially motivated to become acquainted with other, presumably more desirable, men".

Dr Quirk, Associate Professor at James Cook University, said because of these traits, high-oestradoil women "may also be the sort of women that other women don't like too much".

 

Sex, Politics & More Sex

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With all due respect to the

Wed, 01/14/2009 - 13:05
bad (not verified)

With all due respect to the science of female hormones, I've known a lot of muscular athletic women who were sought after by men. Since when is our heterosexual value a badge of honor? Marilyn, bless her heart, was a mess due to excessive male attention. I'd say turn some of those curves into muscle.

Betty Dodson

 

Whew!

DigiRomp's picture
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 19:06
DigiRomp

I found this bit interesting:

"show elevated confidence and a greater inclination to have sex outside of their current relationship"

Well, that explains *almost* everything.  ;)

sounds like an economic thing

Thu, 01/15/2009 - 16:17
notjustpeachy (not verified)

Although, the article is interesting, it suggests that the hormones affects the behavior. I like to think we women although motivated by hormones sometimes, can wade through this stuff and make choices with more substance than that.

I would suggest it discounts our socio-economic status too much. Many women who are attractive have more opportunity to "trade up" financially through partners and therefore more of them do. An attractive women will receive more attention from both men and women. If they enjoy the attention too much, many women will reject them for not doing the socially accept thing. (As well as the threat that their husband might be next.)

I think these women are well aware of their beauty "currency" and use it to their advantage. I think they enjoy the power this affords them.

I also think that with more women earning equal to or more than their partners we will see that shift in power for women moving from beauty to wealth. This is a situation that men have used to their advantage for a long time. I wonder how long it will take for women to exploit that power and how society will respond initially and overtime. I'm not suggesting that women should do these things, I just think that it will be a pendulum effect that swings further out and then comes back to some central position. Should be interesting.

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