# Straight women: which is more important — a man's face or his body? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2018, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401 "2018-08-28T11:48:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/41 "2018-09-03T02:37:38Z")
Let me try that again: When you buy a laptop, which is more important, the brightness of the screen or the resolution of the screen? That’s sort of like the question about guys, because of course you care about both the brightness and the resolution, and either one without the other isn’t really going to be satisfying. And while you care about the screen, and it might even draw your eye at the shop, it’s not very high on the list of features you are probably shopping for. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/42 "2018-09-03T02:38:40Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’m sorry but I dont think I’m getting this. Was “any” hill supposed to be _ant_ hill? Even then, who would answer any way other than “well formed oak leaf”? Besides maybe an entymologist? But you may have meant something else…? I did mean ant hill. And yeah, I enjoy watching ants, but I’m probably weird that way. I gave a better comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/43 "2018-09-03T03:01:32Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > The most important thing to me is what’s behind his face. His skull? ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/44 "2018-09-03T05:30:18Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Why cant any of you simply answer which is more aesthetically pleasing without turning it into a question of what women consider to be the nature of “attraction”? Because the OP raised physical attraction. Which do you like to do more: marathon running or ballroom dancing? Just answer the question, it does not matter whether you do either. ---
**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 3, 2018, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/45 "2018-09-03T05:33:40Z")
I like friendly smiles but not like weirdly-a-bit-too-friendly smiles. And that’s all I really care about. I am not sexually attracted to bodies anyway, and I have never been the type to look at celebrities and rate them by their bodies, it’s usually by face. One of my jobs is rating men’s profile pics for dating sites to help them choose wisely. Almost all are head shots so what you see first on at least that dating site is the face, and I guess after that they can have other pics but it starts with a good head shot. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/46 "2018-09-03T12:15:04Z")
See here’s the thing, puzzlegal, you answered the question: > [@puzzlegal](#): > > For just looking? Probably bodies. But bodies have to be in motion to be attractive, just a still picture is rarely very attractive. And for still pictures, ones that capture motion (the fielder reaching for the ball, say) are much better than ones of guys just standing there. > > However, I’ve noticed that every man I’ve ever dated had good eyelashes. They’ve had a variety of body types. So for actual attraction, the face is clearly more important to me. But that’s not what turns my head. Then you have to go on this lecture about how women just aren’t like that. But nobody asked how you choose the perfect guy. Most guys wouldn’t want to date a beautiful woman who was some big jerk either. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/47 "2018-09-03T12:26:22Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > But nobody asked how you choose the perfect guy. no, just a ridiculous either/or question which is based on a false premise. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/48 "2018-09-03T12:46:11Z")
> [@blob](#): > > no, just a ridiculous either/or question which is based on a false premise. The false premise being that women have any physical preferences? ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/49 "2018-09-03T13:16:49Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > The false premise being that women have any physical preferences? No. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/50 "2018-09-03T13:54:37Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > The false premise being that women have any physical preferences? The false premise being that women rate men in the same ways men rate women, or at least, in the ways men can put in the same boxes that they use. We just don’t. That’s why the question is so “frustrating” for men. What interests women is generally the inner man or at least, the gestalt of the whole person. Not quantifiable. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/51 "2018-09-03T14:08:46Z")
No one asked about rating men. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/52 "2018-09-03T14:19:52Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > See here’s the thing, puzzlegal, you answered the question: > Then you have to go on this lecture about how women just aren’t like that. But nobody asked how you choose the perfect guy. Most guys wouldn’t want to date a beautiful woman who was some big jerk either. Yeah, because it’s an annoying an off-point question. And because guys kept asking, “why aren’t women answering this?” So I answered the original question, but I ALSO answered “why are you all fighting the hypothetical and not just answering the question?” It’s not just that gals don’t want to date jerks. No one wants to date jerks. It’s that (as best I as I can tell) guys are initially attracted by physical appearance. Guys sometimes find it hard to even understand that “attractive” isn’t the same thing as “looks good”. And so they ask women annoying questions. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/53 "2018-09-03T15:22:55Z")
I have known more than a few women who would never date a shorter man, certainly not one shorter than themselves. Are they outliers or does that represent something other than judging on physical appearance? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/54 "2018-09-03T15:34:54Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I have known more than a few women who would never date a shorter man, certainly not one shorter than themselves. Are they outliers or does that represent something other than judging on physical appearance? I don’t think they are outliers, but I don’t think that preference is relevant to this question, unless you read “body” very broadly. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/55 "2018-09-03T15:39:23Z")
A man’s height is less relevant to the discussion ofphysical attraction than strawberries and anthills? Ooookay then. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/56 "2018-09-03T15:43:59Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > His skull? His second face! Yes, I know. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/57 "2018-09-03T15:49:00Z")
nm ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/58 "2018-09-03T16:00:18Z")
If he’s in his natural skin, not tatted up, body modded or excessivley groomed. hair type length or baldness being equal. wait what’s the question where’ s the poll! ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/59 "2018-09-03T16:08:04Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > A man’s height is less relevant to the discussion ofphysical attraction than strawberries and anthills? Ooookay then. I thought we were supposed to use just a photo to determine the level of attractiveness? Height is comparative- I can’t tell how tall a man is by a photo of his body or of his face. In the example of would i rather page through a book of lovely bodies or lovely faces- I suppose the book of faces, those would show individuality best. Still photos of still bodies doesn’t sound very interesting, though bodies in motion are a different story. Ultimately it comes down to my mood. Either way, that book sounds rather boring. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401/60 "2018-09-03T16:20:07Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > I thought we were supposed to use just a photo to determine the level of attractiveness? Height is comparative- I can’t tell how tall a man is by a photo of his body or of his face. Nope. Later posters decided to discuss a book of faces or bodies but that was not in the OP and is frankly really weird. Guys don’t buy magazines or books of just bodies or faces. A more reasonable way to look at it as people watching on the beach or the park. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/straight-women-which-is-more-important-a-mans-face-or-his-body/820401.md?page=4)