Women stoop low to hook a man

IDIOT stick figure with no soul, face like a bulldog chewing on a wasp. Nasty — but when it comes to snaring the object of her affections, no woman can stoop too low.

A new study has confirmed an already widely-held opinion women do battle it out for men's attention and one of their main tactics is criticising their rival's looks.

"I'm eight years younger, three inches taller and I've got boobs," French actress Sophie Marceau cattily remarked of love rival Isabelle Adjani.

It's the type of affront that's par for the course in any love contest. According to the study, women at the peak of their fertility in other words, around the time of ovulation will downplay other women's facial attractiveness as a strategy in competition for a mate.

While casual observers of the mating game may not find this surprising, this is thought to be the first study which actually demonstrates that women compete among themselves for potential mates.

Researchers asked 104 male and female first-year college students to rate, according to attractiveness, colour photos of other students' faces taken several years before.

To gauge fertility, the women who took part were asked about their menstrual cycle. The study found that women rated men as equally attractive, regardless of their cycle. However, those who were ovulating tended to rate the female faces as less attractive, than those who were not ovulating.

Lead researcher, Maryanne Fisher, of York University in Toronto, said: "The theory of intrasexual competition in women has been controversial.

"This study demonstrates a potential competitive process.

"When a female finds a 'potentially' good mate, she will compete for him and do so most fiercely when it is critical for conception," said Ms Fisher.

As reported on Irishhealth.com, Ms Fisher said criticising other women's looks is just one tactic women might use.