# Tendency of pretty girls & women to congregate socially with other pretty girls
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [August 29, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249 "2015-08-29T03:17:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/1 "2015-08-29T03:17:01Z")
On Facebook it’s interesting how often pretty women or girls celebrating a birthday, socializing, partying, girls night out etc. will throw up group shots of themselves surrounded by a gaggle of their closest friends who are invariably other pretty females. There are rarely plain, overweight or other non-pretty hangers on in these pretty girl groups. Men’s groups appear to be a bit less selective on physical attractiveness and will often have a more homogenous mix of attractive and plain/chunky individuals.
What’s going on here? Why do pretty females seem to congregate and self select so strongly into these pretty girl cohorts?
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### Author:  [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/2 "2015-08-29T03:28:27Z")
Has it occured to you that \*some \* persons don’t care to be photographed? While _others_ clearly enjoy it.
Can you guess which group the hot chicks fall into?
And…between males or females, which are actually concerned if they take a good photo or not?
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### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/3 "2015-08-29T03:36:44Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> Why do pretty females seem to congregate and self select so strongly into these pretty girl cohorts?
Assuming it’s true, you may be considering this from the wrong viewpoint.
Consider a women whose attractiveness is an 8. Why would she want to hang out with a group of 10’s where she’s the least attractive woman in the group? She’d probably prefer to hang out with a group of 6’s and be the most attractive woman in the group.
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### Author:  [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/4 "2015-08-29T05:25:23Z")
Birds of a feather…
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### Author:  [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/5 "2015-08-29T05:36:04Z")
I don’t know about photos, but in general, attractive women prefer to hang out with unattractive women. And the reverse is true as well: unattractive women prefer to hang out with attractive women.
Think about it: An attractive woman going out on the town doesn’t want to pal around with another attractive woman. She’ll just be competing with her companion for the attention of the men. So she’d rather hang out with a relatively unattractive woman, thereby allowing herself first choice of the men that come their way.
Likewise, an unattractive woman isn’t likely to hang out with other unattractive women. They’d never get the attention of ANY men. She’d rather hang out with an attractive friend, and have her choice pickings of the men that her attractive friend passes on.
So, two attractive women would be competing for men, which they don’t want. Two unattractive women would be totally ignored, which they don’t want. But a cutie and an ugly hanging out is totally symbiotic: the cutie gets first choice of the men, and the bowser gets second crack at the men who don’t cut it with the pretty one. Win-win!
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### Author:  [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/6 "2015-08-29T05:39:23Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#):
>
> Think about it: An attractive woman going out on the town doesn’t want to pal around with another attractive woman. She’ll just be competing with her companion for the attention of the men. So she’d rather hang out with a relatively unattractive woman, thereby allowing herself first choice of the men that come their way.
Wow. When “mansplain” gets added to the dictionary, this should be listed as an example.
I am a woman. I have never chosen to spend time (or not) with other women based on their physical appearance.
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### Author:  [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/7 "2015-08-29T05:59:28Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> On Facebook it’s interesting how often pretty women or girls celebrating a birthday, socializing, partying, girls night out etc. will throw up group shots of themselves surrounded by a gaggle of their closest friends who are invariably other pretty females. There are rarely plain, overweight or other non-pretty hangers on in these pretty girl groups. Men’s groups appear to be a bit less selective on physical attractiveness and will often have a more homogenous mix of attractive and plain/chunky individuals.
>
> What’s going on here? Why do pretty females seem to congregate and self select so strongly into these pretty girl cohorts?
When out celebrating, they are probably more likely to be dressed up and made up to be more attractive, and not plain. A lot of those photographs probably don’t show the whole body so someone really overweight might not be really obvious. I bet there are plenty of chubby girls in a lot of those photos, but you don’t notice them.
Also, homogenous means the exact opposite of how you are using it above.
[https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/homogeneous](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/homogeneous)
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/8 "2015-08-29T06:06:16Z")
> [@half-elf](#):
>
> When out celebrating, they are probably more likely to be dressed up and made up to be more attractive, and not plain. A lot of those photographs probably don’t show the whole body so someone really overweight might not be really obvious. I bet there are plenty of chubby girls in a lot of those photos, but you don’t notice them.
>
> Also, homogenous means the exact opposite of how you are using it above.
> [homogeneous - Wiktionary, the free dictionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/homogeneous)
You are correct I meant heterogeneous. I think this is the leading edge of dementia.
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### Author:  [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/9 "2015-08-29T06:55:16Z")
Every pretty girl has a fat friend (or two or three). It’s pretty much a given.
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/10 "2015-08-29T07:19:08Z")
Don’t forget what Professor Stinson says:
[The Cheerleader Effect](http://how-i-met-your-mother.wikia.com/wiki/The_Cheerleader_Effect)
and science too:
[Cheerleader Effect: Why People Are More Beautiful in Groups](http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/11/cheerleader-effect-why-people-are-more-beautiful-in-groups/281119/)
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### Author:  [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/11 "2015-08-29T08:41:56Z")
You definitely see this in beach, pool,or otherwise swimsuit pictures. You see these hot looking women in bikinis all in a group.
But, that might be because they are 18-25 and still look pretty good. We all start wearing more clothes as we age and put on pounds.
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### Author:  [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/12 "2015-08-29T08:56:22Z")
I can’t help it. My friends are just drop-dead gorgeous, so I have to keep up.
Also, a little [ditty](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMmlP3PMA0g) for **Rigamarole**. (So very, very, very, offensively not politically correct.)
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### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/13 "2015-08-29T09:21:42Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#):
>
> So, two attractive women would be competing for men, which they don’t want. Two unattractive women would be totally ignored, which they don’t want. But a cutie and an ugly hanging out is totally symbiotic: the cutie gets first choice of the men, and the bowser gets second crack at the men who don’t cut it with the pretty one. Win-win!
In other words, you’re convinced that the only thing women thing about is snagging a man? :rolleyes:
I hate to break to you - it’s NOT all about you and getting laid.
Yeah, mansplaining.
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### Author:  [@Fuzzy\_Dunlop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuzzy_Dunlop)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/14 "2015-08-29T11:13:20Z")
> [@araminty](#):
>
> Wow. When “mansplain” gets added to the dictionary, this should be listed as an example.
>
> I am a woman. I have never chosen to spend time (or not) with other women based on their physical appearance.
I think the funniest part is that not only are women picking friends by appearance, they’re primarily motivated by attracting men. This makes extra-sense when you stop and remember how gorgeous women have traditionally had so much difficulty attracting any attention from men.
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### Author:  [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/15 "2015-08-29T11:22:06Z")
> [@](#):
>
> …because they are 18-25 and **still** look pretty good.
No, this should be under mansplaining too. ( I’m embarrassed for you Dude. Just stop!)
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### Author:  [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/16 "2015-08-29T12:13:50Z")
[Friends have more DNA in common than strangers](http://www.livescience.com/46791-friends-share-genes.html)
If prettiness is influenced by genes and assuming the OP’s generalization contains a grain of truth, then this could be the explanation.
Another hypothesis: physical appearance correlates with personality and interests. It makes sense that women who are into make-up, fancy clothes, and hair and nails will be more likely to bond with each other than women who aren’t into these things. Guess which group is more likely to be conventionally pretty?
See also the cheerleader effect. And the fact that photographs usually capture people looking at their best, not their worst.
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### Author:  [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/17 "2015-08-29T12:25:35Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> Every pretty girl has a fat friend (or two or three). It’s pretty much a given.
I am pretty and fat. So how does this work for me?
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### Author:  [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/18 "2015-08-29T12:31:23Z")
I’m wondering if we have an observer bias happening as well. he OP may well be noticing more pictures of pretty girls on Facebook and just skimming over the ordinary people.
I wouldn’t know, of course. All my female Facebook friends are either supermodels or NASA researchers, so my feeds are above average in every way.
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### Author:  [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/19 "2015-08-29T12:52:33Z")
I have this weird theory that women are actually people, and do people stuff like hanging out with people because they have stuff in common and get on well. Out there, I know, but I’m sticking with it.
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### Author:  [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)
#### Post date: [August 29, 2015, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249/20 "2015-08-29T13:03:48Z")
Women who are interest in their dress, makeup and hair tend to socialize with other women who also are interested in same. They may or may not be ‘pretty’ but they know how to present themselves and of course they share techniques of improving their appearance with each other. And since they went to all that trouble to look good, they make sure there’s pictures of them posted on line.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tendency-of-pretty-girls-women-to-congregate-socially-with-other-pretty-girls/729249.md?page=2)