ABSTRACT
The authors reviewed the literature with regard to the paleoanthropological aspects of mate selection as the process relates to persons who are blind or severely visually impaired. From the male’s perspective these include the following characteristics of potential female partners: structure of face, characteristics of hair, size of waist-to-hip ratio, and age. From the female’s perspective, the characteristics of potential male partners that are considered important are: ability to provide resources, intelligence, age, social status and physical size and prowess. The authors analyse those characteristics with regard to their affect upon blind or severely visually impaired persons being viewed as potential breeding partners by sighted individuals. The authors conclude that persons who are blind are placed at a major disadvantage in being chosen by sighted individuals as potential long-term breeding partners. On the other hand, the results of their own research indicate that blind men and women are not at a disadvantage when they are viewed by sighted individuals as potential short-term sex partners.
