Gender Plays a Stronger Role Than Sexual Orientation in Long-Term Mate Selection, Study Finds

A study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior suggests that a person's gender has a greater influence on their preferences for a long-term partner than their sexual orientation. The research, which included a diverse sample of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and heterosexual individuals, found that certain attributes such as wealth, physical attractiveness, enlightenment, and caring were universally valued across sexual orientations. However, gender emerged as the most critical factor shaping partner preferences. Women showed a higher preference for partners who are caring, enlightened, wealthy, generous, adventurous, cultivated, comedic, and like-minded, while men showed a higher preference for a physically attractive partner and a domestic partner. The study highlights the need for more comprehensive research on mate selection preferences across different sexual orientations.