Female intrasexual competition
Factors that influence female intrasexual competition include the genetic quality of available mates, hormone levels, and interpersonal dynamics.
[5] Luxury items can indicate attractiveness by emphasising a higher status, which is a factor that potential mates will take into consideration.
When women change their appearances, such as by applying cosmetic products and wearing sexy or stylish clothes, do make a difference and has been proven to be effective.
[3] Wearing form-fitting attire, such as dresses that highlight the waist and hips or pants that accentuate curves, is a common strategy to enhance the overall figure.
Makeup, too, plays a role in self-promotion, allowing to enhance certain facial features and draw attention to specific areas such as the eyes and lips.
[17] In the context of intrasexual competition, indirect aggression works to reduce the opportunities the rival may have in securing access to the desired mate to, therefore, increase one's chances of reproductive success.
[18] These include behaviours such as shunning, social exclusion, getting others to dislike the individual, spreading rumours and criticizing the rival's appearance.
Competitor derogation (giving low ratings) towards same-sex rivals occurred frequently when women were at their most fertile stages.
[20] Indeed, indirect aggression appears more prevalent amongst (or exclusive to) females than males who are said to engage in more direct forms of competition.
This also highlights how the physical attractiveness of a female is a trigger for indirect aggression and forms a core part of intersexual selection between the sexes.
In slut-shaming, females criticize and derogate same-sex rivals for engaging in sexual behaviors that are deemed "unacceptable" by society's standards, as it violates social expectations and norms with regards to their gender role.
Indeed, accusations of promiscuity are a frequent cause of female-female violence, where females may physically retaliate in a bid to defend their sexual reputation.
[25] With an ultimate goal of enhancing reproductive success at the expense of others, slut-shaming effectively works to arouse suspicion and cause suitors to question the fidelity of these females.
Men and women tend to judge self-promotion tactics that show resource potential and sexual availability as highly effective for short and long-term mating, respectively.
Research has found that the use of indirect aggression is positively correlated with increased dating behavior and early engagement in sexual activity.
[30] With regards to sexual activity, White et al.[31] investigated the influence of peer victimization and perpetuated aggression on reproductive opportunities amongst young adults.
In contrast, females who perpetuated high levels of indirect peer aggression tended to have their first sexual encounter at earlier stages of adolescence.
[33] Other factors that influence women's intrasexual competition are: Females will promote themselves more often when males demonstrate various abilities to provide secure resources, protection for offspring, or when the costs of competing are inferior to the benefits gained.
[41] The ovarian cycle phase is an emerging concern in exploring issues related to female intrasexual competitive behaviour.
[19][42] Many studies implied that testosterone levels were one of the key factors in aggressive competitive behaviour in social situations.
[19] Females often compete with their own sex to gain the attention of potential mates with high genetic qualities in order to induce reproductive success.
