I am very excited to introduce the newest feature on ModernAthena.com – “From the Mouths of Men.” Due to my hobbies and careers, I have spent a great deal of my life mostly surrounded by men. I love men. I think they are fantastic. And, I also think they have a lot more going on in the emotions and feelings category than they are frequently given credit for. So, rather than just deal with issues of “what is beauty” and “what is it to be a woman” from the female perspective, I wanted to get some insight from the guys, as well.

First up – Tyler Knight. I’ve known Tyler for a number of years and I can safely say he’s my only friend who has his own line of sex toys. Porn star by day and novelist by night, Tyler is a modern Renaissance man. He’s won many awards for his work in the adult entertainment industry, has had his creative writing published in a variety of online literary magazines, and is a painter in his free time.

So, what does a guy like Tyler, a creative, thoughtful artist who happens to spend his days immersed in the adult film business think about women?

In your opinion, what makes a woman beautiful?

There’s the physical aspect, which is a large part of the equation. No matter how evolved I’d like to believe I am, I’m just as subject to the visual cues that nature has designed to differentiate those with the best genes in our species when selecting a suitable mate for survival of the species. Men and women who say physical beauty is irrelevant are not being truthful to its immediate visceral (or at minimum, subconscious) impact. What people find beautiful in the physical sense varies to a degree from culture to culture. But there are some baseline attributes that seem to be universal and transcend culture…waist-to-hip ratio (identifiable several yards away), symmetry, golden ratio, and so forth.

That said, physical beauty, for me, is just a starting point that may be enhanced or diminished by other factors including: empathy, common sense, outlook on life, common value and belief systems, level of intellectual curiosity, warmth, generosity and kindness.

Do you think it’s hard for men to see women as both physically strong and beautiful? Why?

Not for a real man.

Would you date a girl with ripped arms and a six pack? Is there a point where it’s too much?

Yes and yes. Based on what I personally find aesthetic, I like a degree of softness, but there’s a point where it’s unappealing. Conversely, I love fit and toned bodies, but this is subject to diminishing returns, too. This goes back to a visual cue from nature: waist-to-hip ratio. Curves are good. Tone is good. But neither in its extreme. As long as the woman is healthy.

What percentage intelligence and what percentage beauty would your ideal woman be? (i.e. 50% each, 90% hot, etc)

This is an unanswerable question. In spite of everything I’ve said above, I’ve fallen in love with and have enjoyed satisfying relationships with women encompassing all combinations of looks and intelligence. There is hard science for initial attraction, but at the end of the day, you can’t intellectualize love. Nor should you want to. That would only serve to rob us of part of the rich human experience.

Has your appreciation for beauty and/or intelligence in a woman changed as you have gotten older?

Appreciation, no. My understanding of myself has deepened and I’m evolving as I move through life, so what works for me when it comes to a satisfying relationship has evolved as well.

Describe your ideal woman in one sentence.

Kind.

Sometimes being “old fashioned” can be a good thing. Are there any aspects of a woman that you prefer to be old-fashioned?

Manners.  I don’t want another bro, I want a lady.

Have you ever been intimidated by a woman?

No. Not by a woman or a man. We’re all a handful of dust.

Have you ever been inspired by a woman?

My maternal grandmother. My mother. Rosa Parks. Alice Neel.

What would you do if your daughter came home as a teenager, dating a guy who was like YOU as a teenager?

I was a good kid. No better or worse than any other…perhaps more withdrawn and introverted.

What single piece of advice would you give women when it comes to men?

Listen to what’s not being said. We communicate differently

For more from Tyler Knight, check out his website – www.TylerKnight.com.