Sexy Clothing Is Source Of Power For Women
Christopher Philip
Many studies have shown that men routinely overestimate female sexual interest. Perhaps it is for good cause, perhaps it is simply an adaptive feature of maleness. Throughout history, the men whom possessed cocky traits, bravado and confidence boarding on overconfidence would, more often than not, have scored the girl. Playing the game, in other words, is the only way to have a shot at winning!
That much is up for debate, however, in the current study French researcher Nicolas Guéguen Université de Bretagne Suds sought to test the effects of overt female dress on their success in soliciting male attention. Rephrased: the effect of female sexual dress was tested on its effects on men.
The experiment involved 108 men observed over 54 periods on 16 different nights in taverns located in France. Two female confederates were fitted in either suggesting clothing including a very short skirt, off-the shoulder tight-fitting top, and plunging neckline or non-suggestive clothing including a long skirt and a blouse. Dress was randomized between the two girls such that each wore the outfits for a part of the experiment. The make-up and hairstyle remained consistent between trails.
The confederate entered the bar together and found a place to sit were they were near where single men stood – as per the experimental design. Two other male observers took up positions where they could observe the female confederates as well as the bar patrons.
The female confederates were instructed not to show any interest toward anyone else present in the environment. Once seated, the male observer turned on a chronometer to measure the length of time it took bar patrons to make contact with either of the girls. The other male observer was responsible for carefully observe the men who were seated near the two women to monitor their behaviour including glances absent of approach.
An approach was tabulated if verbal approach was made.
At the conclusion of the interactions, the men who approached the girls were presented with a short survey related to the female confederates.
Not surprisingly, the results showed that it took men far less time to approach the girls when she wore suggestive clothing than when she didn’t. In the suggestive clothing condition, it took men only 4.5 minutes to approach, whereas in the non-suggestive clothing, it took men 17.7 minutes.
The men also rated their chances as being higher with respect to soliciting for a date as well as having sex on the first date with the women wearing the suggestive over the non-suggestive clothing. The men rated their chances at 7.3 out of 9, versus 5.2 out of 9 for their chances at sex on the first date in the suggestive versus non-suggestive clothing.
The Take Away Message
The results aren’t at all surprising; women who wear suggestive clothing solicit male attention faster than non-suggestive clothing, and men perceive the women who wears them as more likely to date and have sex.
For women, the message is simple; putting on suggestive clothing is a source of female power over male solicitation. If women wish to attract male attention, they should wear sexy clothing. If women wish to repel male solicitation, they should wear non-suggestive clothing.
It should also be noted that the experimental protocol effectively repelled all men with a simple phrase: “Hello, we are waiting for someone who will probably arrive in one or two minutes. My friend and I have a lot to discuss.. . .Another time perhaps?” The observers noted that this phrase coupled with arms crossed, was sufficient in sending a clear message to would-be suitors that their approach was not welcomed.
Thus a verbal phrase coupled with an appropriate nonverbal expression was enough to properly and effectively thwart an undesirable approach.
Discussing The Findings Less Proximately
While we may see men as misinterpreting female signals – for how can suggestive clothing possibly imply female solicitation interest? However, it should be noted that if men don’t play the game, they can’t possibly have a shot at “winning.”
As men are wired in a way that they attribute cause to effect, and action to purpose, it is not surprising that men also ascribe this characteristics to the opposite sex. In other words, in the eye of men, should he wish to solicit attention from the opposite sex, he’d simply pull the triggers which yielded the most positive results.
Sexy clothing induces him to approach, thus, he assumes, women pull the “suggestive-clothing-trigger,” to solicit male attention. His mistake is in assuming that she always dresses sexy to solicit (him in particular) – which isn’t always the case.
I would advance that women use suggestive clothing to garner attention, to be, and thus feel desired, coupled with the sense of power in soliciting, attracting and rejecting men, with the off-chance that she may achieve a potent offer from a suitor that she can’t possibly refuse*. Whether or not she will actually admit to this motivation, is another story altogether, and just another simple derivative from (my) male mind!
So the message is simple, women should wear sexy clothing if they are prepared to handle male solicitation, as these are the results (whether she likes it or not) they are most likely to achieve.
Conversely, if women wish to avoid solicitation, they can use appropriate non-suggestive attire, non-flirty body language and use appropriate verbal let-downs when these two techniques fail.
By using body language including fashion appropriately, women can claim power over the responses of men and thus, achieve agency.
* Men work actively to pull the triggers in women that help them suit their goals. There are entire subcultures of men who actively study and share secrets about how to effectively solicit from females and pull their triggers.
Image Credit: Kevin Falk
Research
Guéguen, Nicolas. The Effect Of Women’s Suggestive Clothing On Men’s Behavior And Judgment: A Field Study. Psychological Reports. 2019. 109; 2: 635-638.