History Main / WomenPreferStrongMen

* Discussed in ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' when Ishigami goes to [[LovableJock Kazeno]] for advice on how to attract his crush Tsubame. Kazeno's response is to tell him that he needs to bulk up to make himself more confident, and gives him a copy of his personal workout routine. [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Then again, the end of that very same chapter revealed that Kazeno's girlfriend Osaragi broke up with him in part because she found his working out to be gross]].]]

* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', all of Penny's ex-boyfriends are [[DumbMuscle dumb, muscular guys]]. Then inverted, when she falls for Leonard, they become an item, and she finds it very hard to go back to dating such idiots. It should be noted, however, that she didn't really lose the attraction towards phisical strenght and beauty but rather that those traits seem to be mutually exclusive with intelligence in this universe.

-->-- '''[[SpiderMan The Sandman]]''', ''Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man Annual''

* In ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', all of Penny's ex-boyfriends are [[DumbMuscle dumb, muscular guys]]. Then inverted, when she falls for Leonard, they become an item, and she finds it very hard to go back to dating such idiots.

* ''Manga/KarakaiJouzuNoTakagiSan'': Several of Takagi's schemes involve the overall physical fitness of Nishikata, such as strength and agility. Because the fitness system for boys uses higher standards than girls, he has to strive for a higher percentile rank to beat her scorecard. This ultimately makes him one of the fittest boys in her class: he averages at least 7 to 8 points on a national 10 point scale for his age range (and claims he can score the maximum 10 on grip strength). [[spoiler: In the TimeSkip spin-off manga where the two are married, Nishikata has apparently taken up a job as a PE teacher and has a muscular physique.]]

* This was Wrestling/ScottSteiner's reasoning for Wrestling/StacyKeibler coming to him and leaving Wrestling/{{Test}} (it was really for [[DomesticAbuser another reason]]).

* Wtice in ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'':

* A side quest in ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'' involves a woman named Mathilda being pursued by a DoggedNiceGuy named Tony, and she refuses to want anything to do with him until he can prove his worth to her. [[spoiler:If you have Olberic [[ThrowingDownTheGauntlet Challenge Tony to a duel]] (which will surprisingly end in Tony's favor unless you've done a ''lot'' of LevelGrinding beforehand, or can regularly [[BreakMeter break his guard]] before he can use Exploit Weakness on you), then Mathilda will be so moved by Tony's courage that she accepts his proposal.]]

Compare AllAmazonsWantHercules, where the (Amazonian) woman would only settle for a man who is stronger than her and AllGirlsWantBadBoys, where it's his strong ''personality'' that attracts her. Contrast WeaknessTurnsHerOn and the genderflip, AmazonChaser, where a guy is attracted to strong girls. Studies have shown that this is generally TruthInTelevision, although RealLife attraction is of course usually more complex than just one factor.

* Possible with Bulma in ''Manga/DragonBall''; it would explain her falling for Vegeta, recently a genocidal villain, in ''Anime/DragonballZ''. He is in a different league than her previous boyfriend, Yamcha, a much lower threat.

* This was Wrestling/ScottSteiner's reasoning for Wrestling/StacyKeibler coming to him and leaving Wrestling/{{Test}} (it was really for [[DomesticAbuser another reason]])

* A central trope throughout all ''{{Popeye}}'' cartoons, with Popeye and Bluto trying to perform greater feats of strength to impress Olive Oyl.

* YankTheDogsChain: Occurs multple times.

-->'''Lisara:''' ''(whispers dreamily)'' "S-so... so erotic!"

[[caption-width-right:350:Looks like Mister Potato Head [[CockFight doesn't measure up]].]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Looks like Mr. Potato Head [[DoubleEntendre doesn't measure up]].]]

* In the finale of the Manhwa, ''Sweetie'', Do Yuri broke up with her boyfriend after seeing how weak/helpless he was when fighting some thugs. Apparently, being a YakuzaPrincess means that she's really turn off by lack of physical prowess.

Note that this [[AllAmazonsWantHercules does not mean stronger than the woman in question]] but strong, period. In turn, even a weak woman isn't going to be impressed by a guy merely stronger than her; he has to be fairly strong as far as guys go, too. Thus the strongest man in the room is the most attractive.

* Zulaya in ''[[Literature/DragonridersOfPern Dragonseye]]'' is like this. An early hint is when we find out that her current mate, K'vin, being taller than she is appeals to her. Later, when he's irate over another rider's misbehavior, she makes it ''very'' clear how much she appreciates him taking charge, even taking command over her, despite being significantly younger.

* Zulaya in ''[[DragonridersOfPern Dragonseye]]'' is like this. An early hint is when we find out that her current mate, K'vin, being taller than she is appeals to her. Later, when he's irate over another rider's misbehavior, she makes it ''very'' clear how much she appreciates him taking charge, even taking command over her, despite being significantly younger.