8 Interesting Things Men Find Attractive in a Woman

Some years ago, I had a discussion with a friend of mine who was asking me what attracts me to a woman. And like most men, physical attributes of beauty likely come to mind first. When he started listing his own specs too, I realized one thing; that when it comes to beauty, we all have different preferences.

However, among the variety of things men could find attractive in a woman, we can find a classification that highlights almost everything that draws most men to women they like.

The desire to get an attractive mate may seem like a mere lustful desire for some sexual engagement only, but it goes beyond that. Attraction is an evolutionary instinct for happiness, survival, peaceful coexistence, and sustainability of offspring to the next generation. You may wonder how this is so but insights from several studies have proven this fact.

While sexual attraction is the primary factor influencing men’s choice of a potential mate, this behavior is dependent on several other qualities in a woman.^[1]Sex differences in sexual attraction for aesthetics, resources, and personality across age – PMC So much that, it has often been universally agreed upon that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. What this means is that beauty is not only dependent on the physical features we see and that even among those features, what one man may find attractive, another may not.

In this post, I will seek to show you some interesting things that attract men to a woman and how you can optimize your attractiveness as a woman.

Interesting Things Men Find Attractive in a Woman

Several studies among heterosexual men have shown that they tend to be attracted to women who have a youthful appearance, exhibiting features like a symmetrical face, full breasts, full lips, and a low waist-hip ratio (meaning larger hips than waist).^[2]Physical attractiveness – Wikipedia

While physical attractiveness ranks really high in men’s preferences for a woman, a significant number of men have openly come out to emphasize other interesting traits they like in a woman, other than physical beauty. One random online poll showed how men are prioritizing other attributes like character, personality, and behaviors over physical beauty, but that is not to say beauty is no longer important.

Let’s dive in right away.

1. Beauty

Physical beauty remains one of the foremost features that attract men to a woman.^[3]Ibid, PMC A woman who possesses certain features that are generally regarded as the defining features of beauty might appeal to many men. This is because men consider such a woman a prize that can also boost their social status.

Some of those defining features of beauty include facial beauty, skin tone and texture, hair fullness, facial symmetry, lips fullness or roundness, body shape, and shape and size of the breasts and hips. Many of these may be location-specific. For example, what African men may universally consider beautiful may differ slightly from what Caucasian men consider.

For example, on the argument between breasts and butts, which is greater, a study among Argentinean men showed that 59% of the men have a greater preference for hips, 38.5% preferred large breasts, and 2% claimed to appreciate both equally.^[4]Eye fixations indicate men’s preference for female breasts or buttocks – PubMed A similar study showed that a majority of African men preferred butts over breasts, while East Asian men appeared to be more breast-focused.^[5]New study: Intelligence and Group Differences in Preference for Breasts over Buttocks – Clear Language, Clear Mind

However, every man has specific body features that appeal to him more. I have had several interactions with different men on what beauty specs they find most attractive in a woman, and I hear different things each time. I have my own specs as a man too. Meaning that every woman is beautiful, to the right eyes.

2. Character

In a world where women have seen men’s value for physical beauty, some women may consider their beauty the prize and neglect other qualities that make them better partners in a relationship and marriage. This is where the character and the rest you will see below come in.

Men are increasingly prioritizing a woman’s attitude before choosing her for a relationship or marriage. Beauty may be the first thing a man notices in a woman but character and personality might even be a stronger focus of attraction for many men.

From the random poll about what other things men prioritize over physical beauty, several men including married men inferred character traits like respect for the husband and his family, mindfulness, humility, and the like, as more important than beauty alone. One of them even said, “Unless I see a woman with both beauty and character, I will never choose character over beauty. Character over beauty, any day.”

While every man has their own definition of physical beauty, many men find character and personality another important aspect worth considering too.

3. Intelligence

Intelligence is another important quality many men find attractive in a woman.^[6]Ibid. PMC Intelligence has been defined in several ways relating to a person’s ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, but in this context of attractiveness, men may define it in diverse ways.

First, it could mean a woman’s ability to reason and understand things and conversations at a satisfactory pace and be able to make meaningful contributions during a discussion. It also includes emotional intelligence where a woman can correctly interpret emotions based on his actions without making too many erroneous assumptions. On the latter, one man who considers himself ‘sapiosexual’ defined this kind of intelligence as “being able to understand the difference between an attack on a person and an attack on an argument“.

Intelligence could also mean curiosity to learn, confidence in expressing knowledge, independence in decision-making, and shared intellectual interests. However, while all forms of intelligence may attract a man to a woman, research has shown that this intelligence may indeed be an attractive trait to men if the woman displays it in the context of collaboration, rather than competition.^[7]Are Men Actually Attracted to Intelligent Women? – Psychology Today

4. Homeliness

Homeliness is a predictor of how well a woman would be able to take care of the family and this is something many men find attractive. It is the quality of being simple but pleasant in a way that makes one think of home.

Homeliness relates more to a woman’s personality traits and behaviors which can be observed from a distance. It reflects qualities like kindness, loyalty, and the ability to create a comfortable and welcoming environment that makes one feel emotionally safe and cared for. A man who likes a woman can observe these traits from how she relates with other people around her, men, women, and children.

Homeliness can make a woman more attractive to a by-standing man. Men’s discernment of personality traits like homeliness in a woman is an instinctive evolutionary adaptation to find a partner that can ensure adequate care of the home for the survival of the offspring and coherence of the home

5. Openness

How open a woman is can also be discerned from how she relates to other people. Openness reflects honesty in action and words, expressiveness, and approachability. It can also refer to a willingness to try out new things and engage in deep conversations.

A woman who acts in a manner that makes it difficult for other people to access her personal space might be viewed as too strict. While this may protect her from too frequent privacy invasions by everybody, it might make some men less attracted to her. Striking a balance here becomes the best thing to do.

Maintaining a general level of privacy keeps the relationship exciting and engages a man’s curiosity to want to know you more. Doing so with a balance of openness makes a man feel welcome and wanted. Seeing openness signs like smiling, willingness to engage in a conversation, etc., can make a man have a feeling that you are interested in him, which makes him even more attracted to you.

6. Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is the quality of being excited, happy, and passionate about what you do. It is a sense of energy and joy when doing what you do, and it is an attractive trait to men. The opposite of this is when one does things with an attitude that shows that they are being coerced to do it.

Enthusiasm manifests in behaviors like eagerness, willingness to act, sustained interest, and a cheerful disposition when working or doing routines. It is not difficult for men to spot a woman’s enthusiasm, and this can strongly conjure the attention of well-meaning men and draw them closer.

7. Culinarian

If for any reason, a man gets the opportunity to see you showcase your cooking skills, give it your best shot because they say “The way to a man’s heart is through the stomach”. In fact, everybody’s heart is reached through the stomach because everyone loves good food.

A recent poll of 2,000 adults showed that 62% of men agree with the age-long adage of ‘The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’., with 57% of women also believing it applies to them. This shows that food plays a significant role in creating connections.^[8]The Way to a Man’s–And Woman’s–Heart Really Is Through Their Stomach

Delicious food not only satisfies the mouth and stomach but has also been shown to help release feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin. Preparing food for someone also demonstrates thoughtfulness, effort, homeliness, and an investment in their well-being, which can consolidate emotional bonds.

This doesn’t mean that men cannot cook for themselves or that good food is the only thing men think about when they see a woman. Men are also interested in other qualities discussed in this post. Preparing a delicious meal for a man makes him more attracted to you because it signals to him how much effort you put into making the food, demonstrating your mutual interest in an emotional commitment.

8. Generosity

From an evolutionary perspective, generosity might signal good genes and a cooperative nature. In a world where men are generally considered the primary caregiver, a generous woman can be more attractive to a prospective man. It demonstrates that she would be invested in building and contributing to the relationship.

Generosity is not just an act, it is a mindset. It goes beyond how much someone gives when other people ask but examines how they respond even when they don’t have to give. It demonstrates hospitality, kindness, homeliness, and compassion.

Other Things Men Find Attractive in a Woman

While the above list is not exhaustive, here are some other things that can attract a man to a woman.

1. Self-confidence
2. Honesty
3. Ambitious
4. Self-care
5. Sense of humor
6. Jovialness
7. Kindness
8. Independence

Frequently Asked Questions

Final words

Here, you have seen some interesting things that attract men to a woman. Attraction is hugely influenced by physical and personality traits, some of which have been discussed in this post.

Of note is the fact that every woman is beautiful in her own right. Rather than trying to change things you cannot change about yourself (like certain looks, body parts, or natural features), work on important things that can complement your beauty. In the beholder’s eyes, beauty is appreciated in its fullness.