Your point about age-based fertility is likely valid. I claim no expertise here; I only know that I’ve read from numerous sources that the ideal time for a woman to have a child is in her mid to late teens, physiologically. This does not necessarily mean her fertility is at its peak.
As regards thinness, I’m going off significant anecdotal experience and social observation, which is no doubt skewed to my own particular demographics. I certainly know a lot of women who aspire to be fashion-model thin, despite its negative implications for their fertility. Eating disorders also speak to this issue. I know a lot of men who have extremely high standards when it comes to the physical fitness of the women they date, even when the men aren’t themselves particularly desirable. Roissy, for example, refers to optimal women having a BMI between 18 and 23, and also claims this preference is genetic. I expect this viewpoint of how thin a woman should look is rather widespread. I would be very surprised if the ideal BMI in terms of fertility were not much closer to 22-27 than it is to 18-23.
the predominate opinion of the general populace is that… relationship styles, even gender norms are totally socially constructed.
I don’t know what general populace you are referring to. In America, I would be absolutely astounded if your average man-or-woman-on-the-street thinks gender norms are purely socially constructed. I would guess the sample of people who’s opinions and writings you are basing the estimate off of look absolutely nothing like the general public.
Wrongbot has a rather difficult task. I think the group of people it’s arguing against are rather difficult to define, as well as disperse. I’ve certainly seen and read a great deal of ev-psych thinking that centers on the idea that men are providers and women rely on them for resources to raise their children. Pretty much all of the “science” cited in the PUA-sphere relies on this assumption, and they didn’t come up with it from nothing. Unfortunately, the view Wrongbot is arguing against is not a clear and formalized theory with an academic discipline built around its explicit defense; it is a general reasoning tendency common among a large but poorly defined group of thinkers.
Your point about age-based fertility is likely valid. I claim no expertise here; I only know that I’ve read from numerous sources that the ideal time for a woman to have a child is in her mid to late teens, physiologically. This does not necessarily mean her fertility is at its peak.
As regards thinness, I’m going off significant anecdotal experience and social observation, which is no doubt skewed to my own particular demographics. I certainly know a lot of women who aspire to be fashion-model thin, despite its negative implications for their fertility. Eating disorders also speak to this issue. I know a lot of men who have extremely high standards when it comes to the physical fitness of the women they date, even when the men aren’t themselves particularly desirable. Roissy, for example, refers to optimal women having a BMI between 18 and 23, and also claims this preference is genetic. I expect this viewpoint of how thin a woman should look is rather widespread. I would be very surprised if the ideal BMI in terms of fertility were not much closer to 22-27 than it is to 18-23.
I don’t know what general populace you are referring to. In America, I would be absolutely astounded if your average man-or-woman-on-the-street thinks gender norms are purely socially constructed. I would guess the sample of people who’s opinions and writings you are basing the estimate off of look absolutely nothing like the general public.
Wrongbot has a rather difficult task. I think the group of people it’s arguing against are rather difficult to define, as well as disperse. I’ve certainly seen and read a great deal of ev-psych thinking that centers on the idea that men are providers and women rely on them for resources to raise their children. Pretty much all of the “science” cited in the PUA-sphere relies on this assumption, and they didn’t come up with it from nothing. Unfortunately, the view Wrongbot is arguing against is not a clear and formalized theory with an academic discipline built around its explicit defense; it is a general reasoning tendency common among a large but poorly defined group of thinkers.
FWIW, they’re probably doing this to look good in the eyes of other women, not in the eyes of men, or at least are confused about male response.
Actually, they seem to be defined as Pinker...