In this month's Evolutionary Psychology, an article titled 'Attractive Women Want it All: Good Genes, Economic Investment, Parenting Proclivities and Emotional Commitment' out of The University of Texas at Austin, reports women ideally want partners who have all the characteristics they desire, but preferences can be influenced by their own attractiveness.
"When reviewing the qualities they desire in romantic partners, women gauge what they can get based on what they got," Buss said. "And women who are considered physically attractive maintain high standards for prospective partners across a variety of characteristics."
But uh... don't attractive characteristics vary tremendously depending on where on the globe you live, when in time you're considering, who's making the judgment, and a myriad of other factors? Seems to me, desirability is in the eye of the beholder--and I suggest we leave it there.
