Why mums prefer Clooney to Beckham

By Suzannah Ramsdale  on Wednesday 3 December 2008

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Potential mums are attracted to men with husky voices because it is a sign of strength, dominance and good genes, according to new research.

Women at their most fertile are drawn towards deep-voiced men, such as George Clooney, because they see them as better hunter-gatherers and protectors.

However, once a baby has been born it's a different story, with new mums favouring a partner with high-pitched tones, like dad-of-three, David Beckham.

A squeaky voice is taken as a signal that the man will make a good father.

Dr Coren Apicella and Dr David Feinberg made the discovery whilst spending six months studying members of the Hadza tribe of Tanzania.

'Women who were breast-feeding had a stronger preference for high-pitched male voices, whereas women who were not breast-feeding preferred lower-pitched voices,' they said.

'As testosterone is considered a costly signal associated with dominance and low paternal investment, women's preferences may reflect a trade-off between securing good genes and paternal investment.'

The experts also found that the male tribesmen were more likely to fancy high-pitched women as it suggests they are subordinate and feminine.

'Men's preferences for higher-pitched female voices are probably due to an evolved preference for markers of fertility.'  

Bad news for Dot Cotton!

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Wednesday 3 December 2008

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