Popular Culture Says Men Like Big Butts: Science Explains Why
Remember Kim Kardashian’s naked Paper magazine spread? The one with the champagne and the pearls and Kim’s, ahem, well-endowed backside? Yep, that one.
Well, it garnered some serious attention to say the least — almost all positive, thanks in large part to … the entire male sex.
But what is it exactly that makes butt size so important to men? Why do guys like big butts? Why is the combination of a tiny waist and big butt cheeks so attractive to them? Why do men like big butts? What is it about big butts?
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Science Always Prevails
Simply put, men are visual creatures, and they prefer women with big butts because … drumroll please: It’s instinct.
Why are men attracted to big butts? It’s pretty simple. It’s in our genes, in other words. And it’s perpetuated by our natural desire to find a potential mate, procreate, and survive. Human behavior sure is funny, isn’t it?
Evolution Likes Big Butts Too
Evolutionary scientists explain it this way: There is such a thing as a “perfect waist to hip ratio”. That doesn’t only mean big butts. Remember it is about the ratio. According to a 2004 study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences, women who have narrow waists, and a low waist-hip ratio, have higher fertility.
Although this finding has been disputed, we can still confirm that, in men, big butts signal youth, which in turn, signals fertility (the ability to successfully carry multiple pregnancies) and health. The answer to “do men like big butts?” is a clear “yes”.
What About Small Butts?
We should clarify that small butts deserve some applause too, it’s not only big butts that deserve the spotlight. That’s because this line of scientific thinking emphasizes that guys love girls with a low hip to waist ratio, period.
This means that even if you have a nice butt on the smaller end, as long as you have a low waist to hip ratio (where your waist is noticeably slimmer than your butt), basically the same effect is achieved.
Fountain of Youth
Fountain of YouthLet’s talk some more about the impact of a youthful female appearance for men.
Researcher Dr. Grazyna Jasienska explains that, as a matter of course, men are automatically attracted to women who are youthful. This is because men want young women who are in their prime childbearing years. Procreation is, after all, the innate instinct of nearly every living thing on earth. What links big butts and good fertility is that a woman with a big butt may have the higher levels of hormones necessary to more easily become a pregnant woman.
“Health” Is Equally Attractive
In the same line of thinking, psychologist Devendra Singh states that the ideal waist-hip ratio is a signal of whether the person will be healthy enough and have enough energy to care for their offspring. To be specific, Live Science says research has revealed that men prefer women with a waist-hip ratio of 0.7 or lower when looking for a mate. Playboy centerfolds tend to have a ratio of 0.68.
Ultimately, the most desirable waist-hip ratio indicates a woman’s butt is producing the proper amount and mixture of estrogen (the distribution of fat on the body is determined by sex hormones). Further studies have shown that women in the ideal ratio range have an easier time conceiving and are less susceptible to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes — making them altogether healthier. This helps answer the question of “Why are big butts attractive?”
Does a Bigger Butt Mean You’re Smarter?
A separate study found curvy hips and big butts to be associated with intelligence. Published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, the 2007 study found that women with big butts scored better on tests — and so did their children.
The researchers speculated that fat around the hips and thighs holds higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for the growth of a fetus’ brain while in utero. Naturally, the male brain sees large butts as a precursor to the possibility of multiple pregnancies and healthier and smarter children. In other words, if you’re a butt guy, you’re also sort of a brain guy.
Shapely Butts Are (Still) In and Always Will Be
You may have heard it was long legs, long hair, a toned butt, an attractive spinal curve, or a good shape overall that really gets guys’ attention.
And while these are all killer female features that win “extra points”, there’s a reason guys take immense satisfaction in watching a woman in yoga pants with a large butt walk away: 9 times out of 10, it’s her rear end.
Plastic Surgery Supports These Theories
As far as adjustments of physical attributes go, men’s brains seem to be on to something. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery statistics show butt augmentation rates increased by 58 percent from 2013 to 2014.
To plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Schulman, New York City Brazilian butt lift surgery expert, this is perfectly understandable. He performs six to eight butt augmentations a week on all body types — including his exclusive SCOOP Lift buttock contouring procedure.
To see some of Dr. Schulman’s satisfied clients, visit our Brazilian butt lift before-and-after photo gallery.
Say Goodbye to Flat Butts for Good
Although Kim Kardashian’s naked Paper magazine spread didn’t actually “break the Internet” as the publication predicted, there was some major hubbub over her full-frontal nudity photo — and another in which she shows off her voluptuous big butt.
All of Kardashian’s pictures from this time (and the years since) are proof that our culture has become obsessed with ample bottoms. Look at Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Lopez, Iggy Azalea, and other stars for more proof. Flat butts, be gone!
A BBL Expert Weighs In
When asked about Kim Kardashian’s big butt, widely recognized expert on Brazilian big butts lift surgery, New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Matthew Schulman told the New York Daily News: “Kim’s butt is one of the most requested. People want her big butt and round hips.” He reiterated that patients always seem to want a bigger butt that looks like the that of Minaj, Lopez, or even Kardashian’s sister, Khloe.
Of course, the question on everyone’s mind is always: Is the big butt of Kim Kardashian so brazenly displayed in Paper actually natural?
Curves like that “almost never occur naturally,” Dr. Schulman said.
“In my experience, from seeing thousands of women, a big butt is almost never attached to a shapely butt or to a tiny waist,” he said. “Over the years, Kim’s big butt has gotten bigger while her waist has gotten smaller.”
Schulman also opined that computer tricks might have been used, sharing on his Twitter page: “Not sure what screams #photoshop more, the 12-inch waist, or the solid color background?”
What About Implants?
While the Brazilian butt lift (BBL) has been popular for many years now, it wasn’t always that way. As Dr. Schulman told the New York Post, he performs six to eight Brazilian butt lifts a week, up about 25 percent from a year ago. “Five years ago, I never made a butt bigger,” he said. “Everyone wanted their butt smaller.” Today, things are different.
Two options for increasing the size of the buttocks are the Brazilian butt lift and butt implants. Patients often want to know the pros and cons of butt implants vs Brazilian butt lift surgery. Basically, butt implant surgery (gluteoplasty) is a procedure wherein permanent, prosthetic implants are inserted into the buttocks to enhance the size and appearance. Implants add volume and change the shape and projection of the buttocks.
The Brazilian butt lift can achieve the same or similar effects, but this surgery uses your body’s own fat to lift, augment, and contour your backside. Unlike butt implants, a fat transfer BBL can also add volume and width to the hips and anywhere the patient desires.
In addition, liposuction actually slims the waistline (the place where fat is usually sourced). This enhances the hourglass figure effect, providing a small waistline and a big booty. Dr. Schulman has refined the traditional Brazilian butt lift to create his exclusive SCOOP Lift buttock contouring procedure which can shorten the BBL recovery time.
Mommy Makeover Options for Kim Kardashian and All Women
The body goes through significant changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This includes weight gain, stretching of the skin, development of stretch marks, enlargement (and then shrinking) of breast tissue, and breast drooping. Women many also complain about weight gain in other areas of their body such as the thighs, arms, and back.
While weight loss and exercise will help to improve some of these issues, many of these changes, which occur after pregnancy, are resistant to diet and exercise. Unfortunately, surgical correction may be the only solution for many women.
A “Mommy Makeover” is a customized approach to breast and body contouring, designed to reverse the changes associated with pregnancy. This procedure usually involves a tummy tuck, liposuction, and a breast lift or breast implants. Occasionally, an additional procedure such as a lipo 360 BBL may be performed.
In young healthy women, these procedures can be done in a single, safe operation. The entire procedure usually takes 3-4 hours and can be done as an outpatient surgery — no overnight hospital stay required.
We do not have specific information regarding Kim Kardashian and her post-pregnancy body, but if she is like most patients, she probably has had some loose skin on her abdomen, excess fat stores in her hips and thighs, and drooping of her breasts.
A Mommy Makeover is a powerful procedure to help restore a woman’s pre-pregnancy body — or at least get the body she never had (but always wanted) before pregnancy. In addition to significant physical improvements, a mommy makeover also has significant psychological improvements.
Questions and Answers
Why do men like big butts?
Dr. David Lewis, the lead researcher, suggests that our male ancestors likely developed a sexual attraction to women with prominent buttocks because it potentially increased the likelihood of offspring surviving long enough to pass on their DNA. There is a natural reason why men like big butts.
Why do men like big hips?
This question closely follows the question of “Why do men like butts?” Studies conducted across diverse cultures indicate that men generally perceive the curvaceous female body as sexually appealing. Furthermore, research suggests that wide hips in women are linked to indicators of health and reproductive potential, lending evolutionary credence to the attraction.
What causes flat buttocks?
With aging, the buttocks may lose shape and flatten due to decreased fat content and collagen depletion in the skin. Dormant butt syndrome refers to a condition where the gluteal muscles weaken and the hip flexors tighten, resulting in reduced efficiency of their function.
Contact Us Today to Schedule a Consultation
To learn more about Brazilian butt lifts or mommy makeovers with New York board certified plastic surgeon Matthew Schulman, call 212-289-1851 .
