Despite the popularity of the idea of gender equality, women still want to appear younger and more beautiful, and men — more successful and richer than they really are. But there are still some changes, the researchers found.
According to the theory of evolution, our male ancestors most valued in women physical attractiveness, which they perceived as a marker of health and fertility. But prehistoric women were attracted by the ability of men to extract resources, which increased the chances of survival and prosperity of offspring.
So it is beauty and wealth that have become areas in which the most fierce competition between representatives of the same sex reigns. And exaggerating our merits in this area increases our chances of finding a partner.
Since in our time social networks have become the field for self-presentation, it is there that we try to embellish our image, trying to look younger, more attractive and more successful than in reality. This assumption was made by researchers from the Erasmus University of Rotterdam (Netherlands)1.
Scientists decided to find out how the state of society in which men and women live influences such practices of self-presentation.
That is, to what extent the idea of gender equality has taken root in the public consciousness. Indeed, in a society where the equality of men and women is recognized, gender roles become more flexible. Women no longer need to look only for a wealthy partner in order to survive, and men can devote more time to the family, not focusing on making money.
The researchers analyzed the data obtained during an anonymous survey — more than 12 adult men and women from 25 countries took part in it. Respondents were asked to agree or disagree with different statements.
For example: “On Instagram (an extremist organization banned in Russia) I lie about my age in order to look more attractive” or “… I give the impression that I work where I don’t really work.”
The results of the survey showed that men and women, as expected, use social media to create a deceptive impression of themselves. And it is precisely in those areas that we mentioned earlier — women try to look younger and more physically attractive, and men try to be more successful and richer than they really are..
It turns out that gender equality prevailing in society at least somewhat reduces the desire of people to look better in the eyes of potential partners than in reality, but does not reduce the phenomenon of “false self-presentations” to nothing. It still thrives.
However, in conditions of gender equality, the differences between the sexes in this area are increasing.
Women are less likely to sugarcoat their physical attractiveness, while men continue to exaggerate their success. What can this indicate? The fact that women still prefer partners with equal or higher access to resources — despite the improvement in their own socio-economic situation.
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