Postmenopausal women prefer slender, bearded men over youthful or muscular types
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A new study suggests that women’s preferences in men may shift significantly after menopause, with many middle-aged and postmenopausal women showing less interest in youthful “pretty-boy” looks or heavily muscular bodies — and instead feeling greater trust and emotional comfort toward slimmer, bearded men with a more mature appearance.
Researchers from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland and other institutions evaluated the attractiveness perceptions of 122 women aged 19 to 70, according to findings published in the December issue of the international journal “Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology.” Using digital imaging, the team adjusted male facial masculinity and femininity, beard volume and muscle mass, then asked participants to rate attractiveness across different body-type categories.
To help illustrate the study’s categories, one can compare them to well-known Korean actor archetypes. The first group was the “feminized face” type — similar to actors with fair skin, soft jawlines and delicate features, such as Song Joong-ki or Cha Eun-woo, who are often described as classic “flower-boy” figures. The second category was the “muscular build” type, comparable to actors like Ma Dong-seok or Ahn Bo-hyun, who display broad shoulders, prominent upper-body muscle and strong, V-shaped physiques traditionally associated with genetic fitness.
The third category was the “bearded and slim” type — not conventionally handsome, but exuding maturity and individuality through a slender frame and fuller facial hair, similar to styles associated with actors such as Ryu Seung-bum or Koo Kyo-hwan.
According to the analysis, younger women of reproductive age tended to favor softer facial features or strong muscular builds, aligning with long-standing evolutionary-psychology theories that link attraction to cues of health and genetic strength. However, responses shifted noticeably among older and postmenopausal participants. These women showed less enthusiasm for youthful, polished faces or highly muscular bodies and instead expressed a stronger preference for slim, bearded men with a calmer, more grounded appearance.
Researchers said that as women age, beards may be interpreted less as a mere physical trait and more as a symbolic marker of maturity, stability, and social competence. In contrast, highly sculpted muscles — strongly associated with youth and competition — were rated as less appealing among menopausal participants.
Scholars linked the findings to the “grandmother hypothesis,” an evolutionary theory suggesting that once women transition beyond childbearing, their priorities shift away from traits related to reproduction and physical display. Instead, they increasingly value emotional security, reliability and caregiving partnerships — qualities that may be perceived in leaner, older-looking, bearded men. The study concludes that women’s perceptions of male attractiveness are not fixed, but change dynamically across the life cycle in response to age, experience and social context.
This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.