Highly technical, male-dominated pursuits like heavy metal guitar function as an intrasexual status competition. They are not primarily for attracting women directly. Rather, men compete to establish a hierarchy among themselves, and women are then attracted to the high-status winners.
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Women often focus on pleasing men by catering to preferences, a behavior rooted in survival instincts. However, men place far greater value on being admired, accepted, and empowered. They consider 'being pleased' a low-priority concern that comes after all major goals are accomplished.
Fame or renown, even on a small scale, is a more powerful tool for attraction than wealth. Being the 'contextual alpha'—the center of attention in a specific environment like an actor on stage or a musician at an open mic—creates a powerful status hierarchy that is highly attractive, regardless of one's financial standing.
Data shows high-status men practice assortative mating, pairing with women of similar educational and economic standing. The "rich man marries the young, beautiful waitress" trope is a myth; successful men value partners they can relate to intellectually and who understand their world.
Men often admire extremely lean physiques in other men because they represent a high-status signal of discipline and difficulty. This creates a perception gap, as women may view the same physique as less formidable or as a sign of an unhealthy obsession with looks.
A study found that men’s real-world sexual success was highly correlated with how intimidating other men found them, not by how attractive women rated them. This suggests female mate choice is less about direct selection and more about passively choosing the victors of intra-male competition, validating a 'male competition theory' of attraction.