Okay so I’m a scientist myself and I look at things in a very analytical kind of way, but when I saw this I truly wanted to go lock myself up in a cage in some lab, so perhaps I could feel like a lab rat. This particular article talks about how the pill messes up with a woman’s ability to pick a good mate. Okay so I’ve heard that when a woman is ovulating she is more attracted to men who fit the characteristics of a good father, whereas other times of the month she is attracted to whomever. So when I read this I thought what a bunch of shit.
“While several factors can send a woman swooning, including big brains and brawn, body odor can be critical in the final decision, the researchers say. That's because beneath a woman's flowery fragrance or a guy's musk the body sends out aromatic molecules that indicate genetic compatibility.”
I love reading articles that refer to people like animals. “Her mate” and “His mate” is such a great way to explain the complex structure of relationships. Because, like every other woman on earth, I rely on my estrogen and progesterone to know whom to like and whom to mate with. The complexities of who we are attracted to go much deeper than hormones pumping through our bodies. So what about women who cannot have children anymore, can they pick their “mates” correctly?
“Past studies have suggested couples with dissimilar MHC genes are more satisfied and more likely to be faithful to a mate . And the opposite is also true with matchng-MHC couples showing less satisfaction and more wandering eyes.”
Of course it also talks about how when women are not on the pill they can pick “good mates” and there will not be any cheating involved. OF all the people I know who have cheated on their partners none of them have done that for pure sexual/reproductive reasons. The “cheater” usually felt ignored, unloved, sad, depressed etc and the person who they cheated with made some emotional connection to them. The fact that another human being boosted their ego persuaded the “cheater” to cheat.
Not only is this article completely ridiculous in that it makes women look like they just operate on a biological level but it is hetero-centric. I’m certain there are plenty of lesbians who are on the pill for period regulation and other health issues etc. DO THEY PICK TERRIBLE MATES AS WELL? Or do they flock to whatever man they see because they can’t resist their biological reproductive needs? It just infuriates me that they do studies like these that further try to define gender and reproductive needs for people. We as human being are much more complicated than our reproductive organs or any of the hormones we house.
Now excuse me there is a man passing by that smells like he might be a good mate, I have to do my “natural” duty and procreate.
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This is ridiculous. And it was written for a science website? Pathetic. It sounds like something out of the pages of USA Today.
What about those people I know who are "chronic cheaters" and cheat on everyone they have a relationship with? I'm pretty sure it isn't because they just didn't pick a partner with the right smell yet.