# Question for females about their perception of male genetalia
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [August 4, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321 "2002-08-04T20:02:38Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@lukaspriest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lukaspriest)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/1 "2002-08-04T20:02:38Z")
In talking with a lot of my buddies, Ive come to realize that men have all kinds of differing tastes when it comes to the physical characteristics of women. Most of my friends like really large, bouncing breasts, while others (a far smaller percentage) prefer smaller hard ones. Often the characteristics of nipples and other such regions of the female anatomy are discussed.
My question would be this…do women discuss their preferences regarding the size and shape and men’s penises? If so, could you detail us men? Or is it just “longer is better?”
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### Author:  [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/2 "2002-08-04T20:52:47Z")
Oh, for the love of Cecil. Access to the brightest minds in the universe and _this_ is the question that comes to mind?
Off to IMHO, I guess. Keep it (relatively) clean, folks.
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/3 "2002-08-04T21:09:25Z")
Or is it just “longer is better?”
While I am not female, could you give a cite for this wisdom?
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### Author:  [@scotth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotth)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/4 "2002-08-04T21:13:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by manhattan \*
> \*\*Oh, for the love of Cecil. Access to the brightest minds in the universe and _this_ is the question that comes to mind?
>
> Off to IMHO, I guess. Keep it (relatively) clean, folks. \*\*
Oh, come on, Manhattan.
This is a very important question! 🙂
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### Author:  [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/5 "2002-08-04T21:39:01Z")
I don’t recall such discussions. 😛
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### Author:  [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/6 "2002-08-04T21:57:22Z")
I believe the word you are looking for is “gen **ITALIA** ” (Italian men are famous for this)
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### Author:  [@MelCthefirst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MelCthefirst)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/7 "2002-08-04T22:08:04Z")
Well, okay, if you really want to know; short and fat, that’s where it’s at. Oh and a big nose too.
(‘the longer the better’ oh, my goodness, no!)
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### Author:  [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/8 "2002-08-04T22:13:45Z")
Barring the miniscule (poor guy; he tried really hard, though!), I doubt I could even give you a reliable comparison of the male genitalia I’ve seen in person. IMHO, it’s waaaaaay more important whether he knows how to use what’s he’s got, and that doesn’t just apply to genitalia by a long shot (pun somewhat intended).
We ladies sure do compare and contrast other body parts, though. This, however, is a matter of taste, which varies widely. Personally, I’m a fan of sensitive hands and well-defined cheekbones…but please don’t get me started on that topic, since I can’t do anything about it for the foreseeable future!
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### Author:  [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/9 "2002-08-04T22:21:46Z")
IME, women usually don’t care enough penis shape preference to discuss it. We talk about arms, chest, hair, eyes, whatever, but rarely–and actually, never in my experience–do penis preferences get brought up.
[sub]Heh heh…I said “brought up.”[/sub]
Not that I’d think women would be interested in–um–more peculiar phalluses. Something average-penis-looking will do just nicely.
I’m wondering if men will ever realize that women don’t look at dicks the way a man looks at boobs. Most of us aren’t that visually stimulated (some certainly are, and you’ll likely hear from their side in this thread). You can also reference [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb//showthread.php?threadid=126588), where we discuss erect-vs.-flaccid porn preferences. Again note that several female Dopers say “Eh, whatever.”
It’s. Just. A. Penis.
But ooooh, a guy with a nice chest and arms, no shirt on, and nicely fitting jeans…YUMMY!
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### Author:  [@mandielise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandielise)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/10 "2002-08-04T22:40:35Z")
I have almost no experiences with that part of the male anatomy… and I really don’t have any girl friends at school (except the lesbians). In high school, no one talked about that - but I DO recall getting a lecture from Amy and Bree saying (when I had never seen even in pictures a man’s penis) “NEVER LOOK AT THE BALLS! They’re so scary.” Then again, that WAS high school talk!
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### Author:  [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/11 "2002-08-04T23:15:34Z")
Women do discuss it. Curvature and girth are usually held to be most important.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/12 "2002-08-04T23:23:46Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by manhattan \*
> \*\*Oh, for the love of Cecil. Access to the brightest minds in the universe and _this_ is the question that comes to mind?
>
> Off to IMHO, I guess. Keep it (relatively) clean, folks. \*\*
I wash it every day! 😃
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### Author:  [@Sivalensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sivalensis)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/13 "2002-08-04T23:31:01Z")
Really long is definitely not the best…it can be painful sometimes on the, um, receiving end. Normal size, with a fair girth (though not too big) is also best. But I agree with **Eva Luna** that it’s way more important how you use it…if it’s just in and out in and out, that’s it, then frankly length doesn’t matter much (unless it’s one of the extremes). It’s getting the whole body involved (hands especially, guys!) that’s important. Just being tender too.
I’ll also put a plug in for uncircumcised men…it makes it a lot easier manually 😃
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### Author:  [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/14 "2002-08-05T00:11:36Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Ruffian \*
> \*\*It’s. Just. A. Penis. \*\*
To (semi) quote my hero, Logan-5…
> [@](#):
>
> But it’s different this time because it’s mine!
Ladies, say what you want. We’ll just remain obsessed on our end, okay?
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### Author:  [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2002, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/15 "2002-08-05T01:04:46Z")
**Jonathan** , y’all can remain as obsessed as you want. Just don’t expect many of us females to\* share\* your obsession, or really be all that interested in it (save for: does it work, is it human, and does he know how to use it). 🙂
BTW…uh… **manhattan** …didja change your mind?
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### Author:  [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/16 "2002-08-05T02:00:44Z")
“Does it reach from you to me? Great! Let’s go then . . .”
– Elayne Boosler
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### Author:  [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2002, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/17 "2002-08-05T02:19:48Z")
Let’s try that again.
Off to IMHO.
**DrMatrix** - General Questions Moderator
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### Author:  [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/18 "2002-08-05T03:38:15Z")
To be perfectly honest, I haven’t seen one (hey, I’m only 15!). I’ve had the chance to, but it really didn’t matter to me. I look more at the chest and face and arms…But the most important parts by far are the lips and hands. Are the lips good at kissing? Are the hands skilled enough to make me tingle?
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### Author:  [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2002, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/19 "2002-08-05T03:39:24Z")
To be perfectly honest, I haven’t seen one (hey, I’m only 15!). I’ve had the chance to, but it really didn’t matter to me. I look more at the chest and face and arms…But the most important parts by far are the lips and hands. Are the lips good at kissing? Are the hands skilled enough to make me tingle? Oh, and lets not forget the tounge…
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### Author:  [@Squish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squish)
#### Post date: [August 5, 2002, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-females-about-their-perception-of-male-genetalia/122321/20 "2002-08-05T03:42:40Z")
Hoo-boy… my boyfriend is practically obsessed with penis size; he insists he’s “underendowed” and that women always prefer huge cocks. :rolleyes:
Guys, as long as it’s neither a carrot nor an elephant, it’s great, OK?
But _other_ body parts: I like long legs, tight but not flat butts, and handsome or pretty faces (don’t go much for the ‘rugged’ look).
The thing I find interesting is that women seem to have a wider range of preferences than men seem to. There are women who like skinny guys and women who like musclemen; women who like rugged and women who like pretty; women who like tall and women who like middlin’; women who like blonds, redheads, brunettes and on and on and on.
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