Women Walk in High Heels: Lumbar Curvature, Dynamic Motion Stimuli and Attractiveness.

Norbert Meskó,Olivér Lubics,Lea Juhász,Edit Csányi,Fanni Őry,Gréta Szilágyi,Ádám Putz,András Láng

doi:10.3390/ijerph18010299

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that the angle of women’s lumbar curvature affects men’s attractiveness judgments of them. The theoretically optimal angle of lumbar curvature provides better resistance against both hyperlordosis and hypolordosis as biomechanical costs of a bipedal fetal load that could impair a woman’s fertility. Since men find this attribute attractive, women aim to emphasize it by wearing high-heeled shoes. The primary objective of the present study was to test this evolutionary hypothesis using short videos presenting women walking by the camera. In line with previous findings based on static stimuli (photographs), dynamic stimuli (videos) presenting women walking in high-heeled shoes were expected to elicit increased attractiveness ratings as compared to women wearing flat shoes, which would be associated with the angle of lumbar curvature. Videos were taken of 52 female models walking in two conditions (i.e., wearing either high-heeled or flat shoes). A total of 108 participants (61 males, 47 females) rated the walking models’ physical attractiveness in an online setting. Each model’s lumbar curvature was measured both in high heels and in flat shoes using photographs taken of them prior to each video recording. The results showed that wearing high heels consistently increased the models’ attractiveness, regardless of whether or not it decreased their natural difference from the theoretically optimal angle of lumbar curvature. Both male and female observers showed this positive effect. Furthermore, a negative correlation was found between the models’ body mass index (BMI) and their perceived attractiveness scores in both conditions.

Highlights

IntroductionBoth male and female observers showed this positive effect
In line with the findings reported by Lewis and colleagues [15,19], Hypothesis 4 predicted that wearing high heels would only increase those female models’ perceived attractiveness whose natural difference from the optimal angle of vertebral wedging would decrease as a result
The impact of heels on attractiveness was obtained for each model by subtracting the mean perceived attractiveness measured in the flats condition from that measured in the heels condition

Summary

Introduction

Both male and female observers showed this positive effect. A negative correlation was found between the models’ body mass index (BMI) and their perceived attractiveness scores in both conditions. Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. It is a consistent finding across various cultures that men’s judgments of their potential female partners are primarily based on the targets’ physical condition in connection with bearers’ biological qualities (e.g., health, fecundity) [1,2]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion