Dubious Sex Studies of the Week
Okay, we know we’ve been guilty in the past of drumming up sex research into juicy, slightly misleading headlines. But we’re trying to be better people, we promise! (In our defense, who can possibly resist reporting on a study claiming that wearing socks leads to better sex?) In the meantime, here are some recent “scientific” headlines that gave us pause…
- The headline: “Women Freeze Eggs to Wait for ‘Mr Right.'” The reality: This story is based on a study of fifteen women. Can you even call that a “study”? Sounds more like a girls’ night out gossip session to us.
- The headline: “Shopping Is Bad for Men’s Fertility.” The reality: Trace amounts of BPA have been found in cash register receipts — and BPA is known to suppress male hormones in the body. Okay, yes, BPA is bad. But it’s bad for all of us — men, women, and especially children and babies. But “Licking Cash Register Receipts Bad for Babies” isn’t nearly as catching.
- The news: Photos where you’re smiling are more likely to attract the opposite sex online. No, really? What’s next: A study proving that women like guys with a sense of humor?
The OKCupid study was actually really interesting. Sure, the headlines we break it down to sound dumb, but the comparative effectiveness of smiling and “sexyface” between men and women, and the effectiveness of amount of skin shown was really fascinating.
http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2010/01/20/the-4-big-myths-of-profile-pictures/