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!