So, you know how you can't help but get a little bit miffed whenever you catch your man checking out another woman's breasts? (Even if he thinks he's being subtle? Because he's soooo not.) Well, according to a recent study, we really have nothing to get upset about. No, not because we're "imagining things" or because it's "just what guys do" and "isn't a big deal," but because apparently we ladies are just as likely to stare at boobs.
Researchers who examined the way different people process images of men and women found that men's bodies are usually processed in a "global" way (meaning that we judge a man as the sum of his parts, basically), while women's bodies are assessed by what's called "local" cognitive processing (meaning we judge each of a woman's parts separately).
Interesting. So guys are programmed to fixate on boobs AND girls are programmed to fixate on boobs?
I guess I can buy that. And it makes sense that guys and girls would fixate on boobs for different reasons, as researchers suggest. But I'm NOT so sure I agree with those particular theoretical reasons.
The study's lead author, Sarah Gervais, explains the supposed gender-specific motivations thusly:
"Men might be doing it because they're interested in potential mates, while women may do it as more of a comparison with themselves. But what we do know is that they're both doing it."
"We can't just pin this on the men. Women are perceiving women this way, too."
Okay, two things: First of all, OBVIOUSLY men are checking out women's boobs because they're "interested in potential mates" -- that's exactly why their current mates get pissed off about it! Second of all, I find the idea of women going around gawking at other women's cleavage to see if they themselves "measure up" flat-out insulting. Believe it or not, Sarah Gervais, most women I know are way too preoccupied with matters of actual importance (such as work, kids, money, health) to waste any time or brain space playing "who's got better boobs" all day long.
In short, YES, we can pin this on men. Because even if women do stare at boobs, we haven't figured out why just yet. Men? As for men? We figured out why men stare at boobs ... hell, before we invented the wheel, most likely.
And you know what? Men can just sleep on the couch for all we care. Here's your pillow, dirtbag! Go and dream about your potential mate all night long.
Do you think women stare at boobs as much as men?
Image via Dan Stewart/Flickr
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 16
There's no way in hell that woman oogle breasts just as much as guys do... guys constantly do it. Practically every woman they see. Honestly..
And remember that scientific studies such as this focus more on the trends that can be measured among large groups of people rather than the wide variances that exist in the human population. As such it's best not to assume that they are describing you and your friends personalty, just men and women in general.
I don't just look at boobs either. I'll check a womans rear, waistline, hair, smile, etc. And I do them 1 at a time, just like the study says.
The only thing that doesn't apply to me personally, is staring at men as a "whole package". I pick parts just like I do when I'm oogling hot women.
My SO doesn't mind at all that I'm bisexual, and we check out women together on a regular basis.
It's a generalization. Some women may stare. Some men stare. So what?
Hahaim picky about smiles ;)
I like boobs too! I don't look at them to compare to myself but if I see a nice looking woman I'm probably going to check out her rack. Other times the first thing you see is a woman's chest and you just can't help but look!