Emily Chhen: The Pill and the Rules of Sexual Attraction
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Transcript of Emily Chhen: The Pill and the Rules of Sexual Attraction
Emily Chhen The Pill
and the rules of sexual attraction
Has the pill changed the rules of sexual attraction?
Emily&M&Chhen&
Image&courtesy&of&Google&
• Oral contraceptive
• Prevents pregnancies
• Highly effective
• No protection against STIs, HIV
HOW$$DOES$IT$WORK?$
• Synthe8c&hormones&
– &Estrogen&&– &Proges8n&
1. Prevents&ovula8on&from&occurring&&
2. Thickens&cervical&mucus&
3. Thins&lining&of&uterus&
SINCE$THE$1990s…$NEW$RESEARCH$
The&PILL&and&its&influence&on&a&
woman’s&choice&in&poten8al&
partners?&
MEN$&$WOMEN$
GOAL$=$To$give$future
offspring the best chance of survival.
HOW? • Different immune
systems
WHY? • Reduces
inbreeding • Robust immune
systems
EVIDENCE$FOR:$THE$TBSHIRT$STUDY$
THE$TBSHIRT$STUDY$
NonBPill$users:$
• Preferred&MHCI&
dissimilar&men&
PillBusers:$
• Preferred&MHCI
similar&men&
STUDY:$$
Women&&+&MHCIsimilar&men&&Less&sexually&
sa8sfied&and&more&likely&to&cheat&on&their&
partners&men.&
ATTRACTIVENESS$TO$MEN$
OvulaKng$nonBpill$users$prefer:$
• Symmetrical&male&features&
• More&masculinity&features&(ie.&muscle&tone,&
masculine&voice&and&behaviour)&
PillBusers$prefer:$
• LESS$Symmetrical&male&features&
• LESS$Masculinity&features&(ie.&muscle&tone,&
masculine&voice&and&behaviour)&
ATTRACTIVENESS$TO$MEN$
OvulaKng$women$experience$changes$in:$
• Woman’s&facial&appearance&
• Body&odor&• Vocal&pitch&
ATTRACTIVENESS$TO$MEN$
Become&more&
aTrac8ve&to&men&
PillBusers:$
• Body&odour&–&no&overall&difference&
• Vocal&pitch&–&no&observed&
differences&
ATTRACTIVENESS$TO$MEN$
NonBPill$users$during$ovulaKon:$$
• Body&odour&–&no&overall&&difference&
• Vocal&pitch&–became&
more&aTrac8ve&
COMPETING$FOR$MEN$
• Men&are&more&aTracted&to&ovula8ng&women&
STUDY:$$
• Tips&earned&by&lap&dancers&• Tips&earnings&varied&across&menstrual&cycle&
COMPETITING$FOR$MEN$
• NonIpill&users:&Made&$20USD/hr&more&during&
their&fer8le&phase&
• PillIusers:&no&observa8on&
Meaning?$
• PillIusers,&decreased&ability&to&compete&with&nonIpill&users&
for&men&
LONG&TERM&EFFECTS:&
• Increased&risk&in&recurrent&spontaneous&abor8on?&
• Less&healthy&babies?&
• Rela8onship&dissa8sfac8on&&
• Partnership&breakdown?&
• Women&will&stray?&
EVIDENCE/REASONS$AGAINST:$
• Research&from&Biological&perspec8ve&ONLY&
• Subsequent&tes8ng&&mixed&results&
• Limita8ons&in&research&
LIMITATIONS$
• The&PILL&interfere&with&natural&mate&
preferences.&&BUT&leads&to&altered&mate&
choice&decisions?&
• Small&sample&size&tested&
• Western&monogamous&socie8es&
LIMITATIONS$
• ShortIterm&partners&
• Already&exis8ng&long&term&pairIbond&rela8onships.&What&happens?&
• Difference&between&Pill&and&NonIpill&users?&
• Long&term&consequences?&&
LIMITATIONS$
• ShortIterm&partners&
• Already&exis8ng&long&term&pairIbond&rela8onships.&What&happens?&
• Difference&between&Pill&and&NonIpill&users?&
• Long&term&consequences?&&
CONCLUSION$
Need$to:$
• More&research!&
• Consider&risk&versus&benefits&of&the&PILL&
Thank&you!&
Emily Chhen
Thank You!