Timaru women prefer their blokes rugged

Timaru women seem to be going against latest trends when it comes to the faces of men.

A global online study by Aberdeen University psychologist Lisa DeBruine, and her husband Ben Jones, found a feminine-looking man's face was more likely to capture the eye of a heterosexual New Zealand woman than a rugged-looking type.

The study found that women's preferences for male faces vary according to the state of health care in the nation where they live.

A small number of New Zealand women were among the 4500 they tested in 30 countries throughout the world.

On the streets of Timaru yesterday, the Herald showed eight women photos of four actors – two who would fall under the rugged category (300 star Gerard Butler, 40, and former 007 Sean Connery, 79) and two who were more feminine-looking (Twilight star Robert Pattinson, 23, and High School Musical's Zac Efron, 22) and asked which they preferred.

Seven out of eight women said they liked the rough look better, for a range of reasons.

Some said manly men appeared "dangerous and exciting", while others simply wanted to be the only feminine-looking one in the relationship.

- with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News