Mate Selection Preferences

Abstract
This experiment was conducted to study gender differences in mate selection preference. 82 participants, aged 17-23 years and have never been married were randomly selected for the experiment in a convenience sample. Participants were given a survey- listing considerations important to people in choosing a life partner- to complete. Participants had to rate how willing they are to marry a person with a certain characteristic; each characteristic is rated individually on a 7-point scale (1=not willing, 7=willing). The mean ratings for each characteristic were calculated; mean ratings were determined individually for males and females, and as a whole. Results show that males ranked physical attraction to be more important in choosing a life partner, while females placed more importance on financial stability. Both genders equally emphasized personality and similarity. The ratings for social approval are somewhat equal,
On positive attributes, females scored higher 5.90; 5.51 compared to males who scored 4.32 and 4.35 for a mate’s higher earnings and more education respectively. On negative attributes, females ranked lower: 2.18; 3.41; 3.46 on a partner not having a steady job, earning less and having less education than did males: 3.29, 4.79, 4.00. Males reported higher emphasis on physical attraction than did females. The negative attributes under physical attraction generated a lower ranking value by males (3.32 for face, and 3.29 for body) than for females (4.21 for face, and 3.90 for body).The difference in rates for personality however, was not significant. Social approval took in almost similar ratings for both males and females, with relatively high mean ratings for both genders (females reported 5.64 for friends and 6.15 for family; males reported 5.74 for friends and 5.88 for family). Differences in similarity rankings were also