variations in size and symmetry of facial bones and the placement of weight on the body (Cowley, Geofrey and Karen Spriger, 1996 p.68).” Adult male and female faces are different in shape, with most of the shape differences developing at puberty in response to the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen. In general, males have relatively high testosterone levels and females have relatively high estrogen levels. High testosterone at puberty results in specific bone growth causing growth of the lower face and jaw, growth of the cheekbones, growth of the brow ridges and projection of the central face between the brow and the bottom of the nose. Other effects of testosterone on the face are: growth of facial hair, bushier eyebrows set closer to the eyes, a wider nose and mouth and a change in voice pitch (Turner, 1999). “The hormone also aids muscle deposition and aggression, which are both useful for competing in male hierarchies. Testosterone also has the negative effect of inhibiting the immune system” (Hotenski, 1999 p.57). Therefore, anyone who shows high levels of testosterone and is also in good health demonstrates superior gene quality. It would follow that females would prefer such males as mates; however, recent studies by researchers at the University St. Andrews in Scotland, and the University of Tokyo indicates that females prefer more ‘baby faced’ men as long term partners, but show a preference for more masculine faces while ovulating. This would suggest that females have evolved a mating strategy that says ‘marry a nice guy who will invest into you and your offspring- but be interested in having affairs with better quality men at the time you are most likely to conceive’. Female faces change much less during puberty because high estrogen concentration prevents growth, especially in the chin area (Turner, 1999; Cowley and Spriger, 1998). The major changes in the female fac...
