# Straight women: Does culinary or mechanical expertise make a man more attractive? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516 "2013-09-23T15:10:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![prettydorky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@prettydorky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prettydorky)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/21 "2013-09-23T18:00:17Z")
I voted for seeing them naked first. Either one of those talents would be a nice perk, I’d probably prefer the Mr. Fixit talent in the long run, but they won’t affect the level of my attracted-ness to them. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/22 "2013-09-23T18:15:14Z")
“If women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.” -Red Green ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/23 "2013-09-23T19:15:38Z")
It’s easy and cheap enough to hire a handy man or contractor to come fix the broken shit around the house every so often. Hiring a personal chef to cook for me half of the time would be a far bigger expenditure, so I voted for our master chef. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/24 "2013-09-23T19:21:56Z")
I can do both. 😃 Ladies, the line forms to the left. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/25 "2013-09-23T19:41:27Z")
I’ve worked as a cook and as a mechanic (cars and aircraft). I also do the laundry and like to load up the dishwasher. I don’t like to paint or do carpentry. However I make enough money to pay someone to do that. Maybe that’s why I’ve been married for 36 years. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/26 "2013-09-23T20:43:36Z")
I’m not dating either guy if they’re gonna make me choose. I will not be controlled! They best be good at both. That’s all I’m sayin. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/27 "2013-09-23T20:46:52Z")
The guy that is into mechanics, definitely. I can cook well myself, but I am far from a ‘foodie’ and find an overt obsession with cooking and eating an undesirable trait. Same with being a sex hobbyist (porn, erotica, swinging, massive toy collections…) To me sex and eating are physical needs which must be met, I enjoy both myself, but I prefer someone who lives more ‘in their head’ and has interests in a more intellectual/non-bodily vein. Both of my serious boyfriends were/are naturally very skilled with mechanics, love cars and taught themselves to do all their own repairs before they were driving age, can fix and build most anything, and are fascinated with learning how things work. They are also eat-to-live types who don’t like to cook and tend to undereat rather than overeat. No coincidence. I do the cooking, because I like to. ---
**Author:** ![Mills](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Mills](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mills)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/28 "2013-09-23T20:48:45Z")
Culinary ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/29 "2013-09-23T21:08:14Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I’m not dating either guy if they’re gonna make me choose. I will not be controlled! > They best be good at both. That’s all I’m sayin. So you’re okay with either or both of them having another girlfriend, yes? ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/30 "2013-09-23T21:15:48Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Let’s define some terms here. > > As I said I’m not a great cook, but I am a good one, and I do most of the actual cooking in my house. When I’m making an meal, say, I clean up as I’m going along–partly because the entire cooking job is easier that way, and partly because people who are not helping cook are not allowed in the kitchen while cooking is ongoing, as they’re just in the way. So when the meal is ready to serve, the kitchen IS clean, except for the flatware, silverware, and serving dishes; the cookware will already have been cleaned and put away, all surfaces wiped down, and so forth. > > Are you saying you’d expect your truly great chef to do the dishes in addition to all the stuff I do? Because that seems to be edging him into servant territory. No, she’s asking if the kitchen will be the way you leave it, or if everything used to prepare the meal will be left for her to deal with. And I want to know the answer to that, myself. I can both cook and fix things, so my decision mainly rests on who’s going to make less work for me. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/31 "2013-09-23T21:35:57Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not dating either guy if they’re gonna make me choose. I will not be controlled! > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > So you’re okay with either or both of them having another girlfriend, yes? You already know my answer to that! If a man ain’t got my heart, he ain’t got exclusive rights to nothin’ else, and vice versa. Present husband is an anomaly, and I’m still not quite sure how that happened! 😃 But, putting myself into hypothetical looking for monogamy mode for the moment: > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Assuming all else is equal, which man are you likely to find more attractive? I would find the avid cook more _attractive_, based on previous experience. But if I’m not in love with either yet and truly could go either way but have only one, I’d chose to fall in love with Mr. Fixit. As others have said, I can cook pretty well, but I’m not particularly handy, nor do I desire to become so. It would be a better partnership. But since hearts don’t really work that way, I’m going to enjoy having some hot meals on the table when I get home from work. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/32 "2013-09-23T21:50:28Z")
It’s not even a contest. For one thing, I’m not all that much of a foodie. Second, I like all the mechanic-y/gadget-y stuff Too! So a man that can teach me, and goof around under the hood of a car, or the inside of a gamer’s machine is going to be my cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/33 "2013-09-23T22:19:01Z")
Hahahahahaha! I choose both. The guy I married is an engineer and an air frame/power plant mechanic and he loves to cook! Surprisingly enough there are many guys like him. Don’t settle for less ladies, you can have it all. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/34 "2013-09-24T00:56:46Z")
I hate hate hate to cook, though I do, almost every day, and not too badly. I can say with full confidence that if I never had to cook again I would not miss it, not for a minute. The guy who loves to cook is my choice! I am in the lucky situation of having a guy who is my type, handsome and witty who loves to cook and is very handy. The only problem is him having the time to do either the cooking thing or the handy thing, sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/35 "2013-09-24T01:13:20Z")
I hate cooking so I would love a guy who cooked as long as he was willing to make reasonably healthful vegetarian food. The last thing I need is a constant stream of cake and stuff around. The mechanical stuff would be nice but he’s financially-secure anyway so we can afford a professional to fix things when it occasionally comes up. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/36 "2013-09-24T02:10:06Z")
I couldn’t give a crap about anyone’s cooking skills - I’m about as far from a foodie as it is to be without living 100% on prepackaged food. A guy who can fix things, though, sure, that’s pretty hot. ---
**Author:** ![catnoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@catnoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catnoe)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/37 "2013-09-24T03:41:45Z")
Went with the cook. About five years into our marriage Hubby expressed displeasure with my cooking skills or lack thereof one time too many and I informed him that he could take over the job. Over the course of a year I hand over the kitchen. A few years later the navy sent us to Italy and how to cook clicked for him. He’s quite cook, not Top Chef good but my family and his loves it when he cooks and looks forward to what he’ll bring to family functions. These days I’d likely starve if left to my own defenses. If he isn’t gonna be home for dinner he’ll make sure to have something mostly ready in the fridge so I don’t just make ramen noodle. I have the mechanical aptitude in this house, I’m not going to fix the A/C but can handle most repairs. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2013, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/38 "2013-09-24T07:46:09Z")
mrAru is both so I didn’t have to choose [and he does dishes and laundry without prompting!] I love to cook, so what interests me is someone who is not picky about food, or allergic to lots of stuff. I can deal with a simple doesn’t like something as long as they do not lie about it. The mechanical dude can keep the dish washer fixed up, the appliances running properly and so forth:p ---
**Author:** ![applebetty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@applebetty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/applebetty)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/39 "2013-09-25T02:18:46Z")
I love a man with big, capable hands; so handyman it is. Cooking is basic, anyone can make edible food. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2013, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516/40 "2013-09-25T02:37:48Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Since I can already cook quite well, when I want to, I would want the guy that could fix things, simply because his skills would be more usefull to me. Ditto. I love to cook as well. And I’d hate passing on the chef. But I’ll take the fix-it guy because I can’t! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-does-culinary-or-mechanical-expertise-make-a-man-more-attractive/669516.md?page=3)