Women grin and bare it on Facebook

By now you must have figured what was up with the colour-coded updates of your female friends on Facebook on freaky Friday.

Of course, till afternoon, most men were momentarily foxed with the in-joke (read: among women only) streaming their pages with status messages like white, black, red, leopard, beige, ‘nothing’, ‘is officially colour-blind’…

The secret was out soon: these were the colours of the bras worn by the women. A search revealed that the origin of this campaign lies in a blog where the following post was up: “In honour of breast cancer awareness, we are playing a game…… silly, but fun! Write the colour of your bra as your status, just the colour, nothing else!!

Copy this and pass it on to all Females …… NO MEN!! This will be fun to see how it spreads, and we are leaving the men wondering why all females just have a colour as their status!!”

“I was told about this by a friend last night and then it was all about ‘let’s fool the guys’. So, I put up my colour because it was creative and a girl thing. Only this afternoon did I get another message associating it with breast cancer awareness,” says Jui Lele, assistant manager, Globosport.

YK Sapru, chairman and CEO, Cancer Patients Aid
Society, India, says, “This campaign would have been started by the American Cancer Society. I am not very sure whether the campaign works for India, but I am sure it has generated some amount of inquisitiveness.”

Actor Renuka Shahane, who has been creating awareness for the cause, says, “Well, it is rather interesting but I think the men should be equally aware of the cause. A lone ‘pink’ or ‘red’ as a status line would be rather ambiguous.”

“It was a fun thing to do because everyone in office was doing it and even though it didn’t seem to be about breast cancer, the idea might stick. If the idea was awareness, then an information link would have really helped,” says Urvashi Choubey, management trainee, Hanmer HSL.

So was it a fun marketing survey of women’s bra preferences/fantasies and men’s reaction to that, some project to spice up a sometimes predictable Facebook experience, Facebook’s possible attempt at stealing Twitter’s thunder, or a way to make women think of the very real threat of breast cancer? Whatever the reason, it proved to be sticky.

“A possible reason it went viral was the association of the bra with women’s liberation, the idea of freedom,” says Krishnapriya Banerjee, analyst, McKinsey & Company.
And as news cycle on the Internet goes, most men took over at #umbra on Twitter, in a bid to keep “a-breast” with the ‘loose talk’ and coming up with ‘BRA’ infested one-liners at the speed of crackling mass hysteria about the contraption. A Facebook user’s exasperation by the end of it came with one final, “Ok, enough bra-gging.”

Lingerie shopping made easy & ‘sexy’

A sexy set of lingerie might appear to be the most intimate gift for your girl, but buying it or rather buying the right kind of lingerie can be quite a daunting task.

Particularly, if you wish to increase your intimacy with her, a wrong choice can do more harm than good. After all, nothing can be as embarrassing for a girl than getting a sexy corset in a size that’s way too small, or big, for her.

So, if you want to avoid the untimely death of your relationship, better brush up your style sense before going lingerie shopping for your girl. We bring you a few quick tips:

Size and style rule the roost: The first step to avoid making a blooper is to know her actual size and her taste. While buying a smaller size may cause her embarrassment, buying a larger size can give her an indication that you think she is bigger than what she actually is. So, it is always better to do a little homework beforehand. Check out her lingerie drawers and examine the labels where her size too will be mentioned.

Similarly, having an idea about her style sense will be a big help. Buying a bold black corset may be a wrong choice for a girl who loves flowery lacey stuff. A bad choice can only make her cringe, so observe what she loves to flaunt when you get into some steamy action. If you manage to get even a little close to what she loves, know that you have hit the jackpot. After all, finding her something she loves to flaunt is the greatest achievement for a man. So, let the time be your guide!

Shop for her body type

If she is tall and slim: Garter belts cut the body horizontally and make your leggy lass appear all the more sexy. These belts accentuate the legs and highlight the curves in her body. These belts form the basics of sexy lingerie and stand a rare chance of going wrong. Just make sure you buy complementing stockings, underwear and a bra to complete the set.

If she is voluptuous and well-endowed: Nothing works better to turn a big bust line into a sexy cleavage than a corset. Not just that, it also takes attention away from her fuller tummy by giving it a flattening effect together with highlighting the waistline.

If she is bigger and fulsome: If you think a tight fitting corset or bra will squeeze your fulsome babe into a lesser size, you are heading into trouble. Rather than making her realise she is big, give her something that not only makes her feel comfy, but covers her rounds in the best possible way. A sexy negligee will do the best to hide all the sins. Something like a baby doll that‘s fitted at the bust and flairs down, her bum will not only accentuate her cleavage but will also camouflage her big bottom. Go for dark colours as they have a slimming effect; nets and see-through fabrics are absolute no-no’s.

If she is fit and athletic: Wanna make your tomboyish girl look sexy for a change? Boy shorts in a sexier style are what you must buy. Not only will they make her athel etic bod look curvier, they will also accentuate her well toned butt. Anything from a bra to a corset complements a boy short well. So go ahead and let your sporty babe pose sexy tonight.

If she is shy: Not everyone is blessed with a girl who is confident enough of her body and doesn’t mind sporting even the most daring of lingerie styles. If your girl is not very comfortable flaunting that tiny-miny underwear that you bought for her, just ease her by adding a satin robe. The robe will take away her hesitation and the satiny effect against her body will make her feel sexy and sensual. And you never know what else it does to her mind and you might just get lucky!

Points to ponder

• Make sure what you buy doesn’t accentuate or clings to a body part that she prefers to hide. For example a big tummy or thighs…you know your girl so better pick up something that flows down those areas making her look curvy.
• Your aim should be to gift something that enhances her best assets.
• Darker colours have a slimming look.
• When it comes to fabric, cotton is a big no, as women prefer it for everyday use and as a gift option, looks boring.
• Lace, silk and satin are the safest bets. They look sensuous and feel beautiful on the skin too.
• Go for lycra only if either your girl has a ten-on-ten figure or doesn’t mind showing off those buldges. The fabric has a tendency to cling to the body.
• Same goes for nets and see-through fabrics. Buy only if she is comfy carrying them.

Make the sales woman your friend for a day, tell her your choice and let her help you find the best piece for your princess.

Gifting lingerie: how to avoid a late-gift disaster

God bless lingerie, every man’s trump card when he wakes up, hungover from the office party, to confront the hideous realisation that he hasn’t yet bought his girlfriend a Christmas present.

Help! How could this have happened? And would a medicinal nip of whisky be out of the question at 8am? There was that ring she mentioned from that shop in Mayfair but he can’t remember whether she wanted it in silver or gold. And there were those shoes she wanted from Mulberry but were they called Kitty, Pretty or Titty? Nope: far easier to buy her a bra and pants.

Her bra size? Quite a handful. Probably an E cup. Best rifle through her lingerie drawer and check. 32D? Blimey, is she really that flat-chested Actually, dear boy, the 32 pertains to her back size: don’t make the common mistake of buying a 36, as it’s the letter that determines cup size, not the number. You’d be amazed how many fully sentient grown women don’t even know that fact, but it’s an essential one.

Some other tips: don’t make the mistake of rushing out and buying red. Too Mrs Claus, and too predictable. David Beckham might shop in Agent Provocateur but then his wife is the size of a toothpick, with a body deemed fit enough to be emblazoned across Armani billboards. Lovely store and all that but perhaps not for the shy and retiring girl.

Have you considered white? I know, I know: it’s not as racy, but lingerie can often be viewed by the recipient as a selfish present, particularly if it’s of the crotchless variety. Buy her something white and she’ll be convinced your intentions are honourable. “Heavens!” she’ll cry, her heart racing as she tears apart the pale pink tissue paper. “Underwear that doesn’t make me look like a page three girl! Underwear bought for me and not for you! You really are a metrosexual man!”

Strange as it may seem, you may be on to more of a promise with a white bra than you would be with a peekaboo one in black lace. Women are funny creatures, and never forget it.

For the same reasons, anything with floral sprigs, polka dots or stripes should also go down well, particularly in muted, tasteful colours such as pale pink, navy or grey. And if a bra and pants set feels too clichéd, remember: this is the season of the Body, so feel free to buy her a sexy all-in-one. Silk camisoles and camiknickers should also be a welcome gift, the former cleverly avoiding the vexatious question of her cup size. When in doubt, always buy smaller in the bra department and bigger in the pants department: underestimating her boob size is far less offensive than thinking they are bigger than they are.

The easiest of course, would be to head to http://www.bwitch.in and beat the crowd to take care of all your lingerie shopping needs.

Spice up your holidays: A guy’s guide to shopping for lingerie gifts

Attention all fellers: As they now stand, your plans to buy a gift of frilly lingerie for your significant other are doomed to flop and fail. You’re probably looking at lingerie Web sites right now, armed only with a vague idea of your sweetheart’s sizes (no, no, stop looking at your cupped hands), and an even more vague notion of what she’d actually like to wear, a notion that’s inextricably rooted in the kind of lingerie you want to see in the bedroom: lacy, see-through, possibly evaporating.

Do some reconnaissance. Take a peek inside your significant other’s underwear or lingerie drawer and look up her bra size, which is a number followed by a letter. Then look at the panty size, which should be small, medium or large.  Do not try to measure her yourself: “A man coming at you with a measuring tape is a little frightening,” Kirti says. “Asking her for her sizes is completely fine.” Kirti also advises looking up your girl’s clothing size (size 6, size 8 and so on), which can be used to size her up for sleepwear.

You should also attempt to discern your lover’s tastes, because you’re probably less certain than you think you are. “Most guys like see-through, black, jewel tones … like the stuff they see in French movies,” says Kirti. (I know that she said “French movies” instead of “dumb American pornography,” but c’mon, fellas.) “Men typically like things that are on the racier side — which is not to say ‘slutty’ — and women want something that’s going to make them feel hot and sexy, because for women it’s very cerebral; it’s all about how we’re feeling.

“You should take her physical attributes into account,” she continues. “Find out what she finds most attractive about herself, and exploit that. If [she’s] a pear-shape, with bigger hips and booty and a really stellar upper body, buy her a bra-and-panty set so she shows off her stomach. If she’s got a tummy or has had some kids, then a baby-doll or something to cover your tummy is better. That’ll show off her legs.”

And whatever you do, don’t guess at the size. “The most common mistake men make is buying too small. It’s rare that I have women bringing back large underwear to buy small,” Kirti says. “It’s more likely they’ll bring back a small to exchange for a large.”

Make sure you’re sure. “If you’re giving lingerie for the first time, it’s really important that you go a little bit on the safer side, and buy something a little more mild,” says Kirti. “Just buy a nice silk nightgown instead of a bra-and-panty set. You can work into the sexier, racy stuff later.”

Conversely, if you’re buying for a lingerie connoisseur, don’t cheap out. “Buy the good stuff,” Kirti says. “She knows what it is, and you don’t want to insult her by buying her trashy adult-store lingerie. Not that there’s not a place for that stuff; there absolutely is. But don’t buy it for someone who loves lingerie and has a collection.”

The best lingerie gifts are the kind that translate “from the boardroom to the bedroom” — the kind of lingerie that could see everyday use. “If you buy her a super-awesome-sexy bra-and-panty set that she can wear under a sweater when she goes to work but can also wear on a hot date, that’s great.”

If you’re unsure what might work in that regard, Kirti suggests you get two sets of lingerie: a classy set and a racy set. “She’ll know that one’s for you,” she says, “and one’s for her.” And if you’re utterly stumped, “Just buy her something black and lacy,” she says. “That looks good on everyone.”

Do some reconnaissance. Take a peek inside your significant other’s underwear or lingerie drawer and look up her bra size, which is a number followed by a letter. Then look at the panty size, which should be small, medium or large.  Do not try to measure her yourself: “A man coming at you with a measuring tape is a little frightening,” Kirti says. “Asking her for her sizes is completely fine.” Kirti also advises looking up your girl’s clothing size (size 6, size 8 and so on), which can be used to size her up for sleepwear.
You should also attempt to discern your lover’s tastes, because you’re probably less certain than you think you are. “Most guys like see-through, black, jewel tones … like the stuff they see in French movies,” says Kirti. (I know that she said “French movies” instead of “dumb American pornography,” but c’mon, fellas.) “Men typically like things that are on the racier side — which is not to say ‘slutty’ — and women want something that’s going to make them feel hot and sexy, because for women it’s very cerebral; it’s all about how we’re feeling.
“You should take her physical attributes into account,” she continues. “Find out what she finds most attractive about herself, and exploit that. If [she’s] a pear-shape, with bigger hips and booty and a really stellar upper body, buy her a bra-and-panty set so she shows off her stomach. If she’s got a tummy or has had some kids, then a baby-doll or something to cover your tummy is better. That’ll show off her legs.”
And whatever you do, don’t guess at the size. “The most common mistake men make is buying too small. It’s rare that I have women bringing back large underwear to buy small,” Kirti says. “It’s more likely they’ll bring back a small to exchange for a large.”
Make sure you’re sure. “If you’re giving lingerie for the first time, it’s really important that you go a little bit on the safer side, and buy something a little more mild,” says Kirti. “Just buy a nice silk nightgown instead of a bra-and-panty set. You can work into the sexier, racy stuff later.”
Conversely, if you’re buying for a lingerie connoisseur, don’t cheap out. “Buy the good stuff,” Kirti says. “She knows what it is, and you don’t want to insult her by buying her trashy adult-store lingerie. Not that there’s not a place for that stuff; there absolutely is. But don’t buy it for someone who loves lingerie and has a collection.”
The best lingerie gifts are the kind that translate “from the boardroom to the bedroom” — the kind of lingerie that could see everyday use. “If you buy her a super-awesome-sexy bra-and-panty set that she can wear under a sweater when she goes to work but can also wear on a hot date, that’s great.”
If you’re unsure what might work in that regard, Kirti suggests you get two sets of lingerie: a classy set and a racy set. “She’ll know that one’s for you,” she says, “and one’s for her.” And if you’re utterly stumped, “Just buy her something black and lacy,” she says. “That looks good on everyone.”

Not a truth? ‘Men lie six times a day’

Men lie and women cry, they say. And, now a new study has claimed that blokes lie six times a day and twice as often as the fair sex.

Researchers have carried out the study and found that men tell six fibs a day on average to their partner, boss and work colleagues, while women come out with just three, leading British newspaper the ‘Daily Mail’ reported.

The study, based on a survey of 2,000 Britons, has also revealed that the most common lie told by both sexes is: “Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine.”

While men are likely to fib about having their last pint and claiming their partner’s behind doesn’t look too big, most women avoid telling the truth about their latest shopping purchases.

Interestingly, 83 per cent of adults of both sexes said they could easily tell if their partner was lying.

But, body language expert Richard Newman said: “Most people can’t read the signals. They assume that if someone is hiding the truth, they would hide their face and avoid eye contact. In fact, the opposite is true.

“Liars usually do everything they can to convince you of the truth, sitting still and looking at you to watch your reaction. People simply overestimate their skills in this area.”

The findings emerged in a poll by 20th Century Fox to mark the DVD launch of TV series ‘Lie To Me’ starring Tim Roth as a deception expert who helps to solve crimes.

Men lie and women cry, they say. And, now a new study has claimed that blokes lie six times a day and twice as often as the fair sex.

Researchers have carried out the study and found that men tell six fibs a day on average to their partner, boss and work colleagues, while women come out with just three, leading British newspaper the ‘Daily Mail’ reported.

The study, based on a survey of 2,000 Britons, has also revealed that the most common lie told by both sexes is: “Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine.”

While men are likely to fib about having their last pint and claiming their partner’s behind doesn’t look too big, most women avoid telling the truth about their latest shopping purchases.

Interestingly, 83 per cent of adults of both sexes said they could easily tell if their partner was lying.

But, body language expert Richard Newman said: “Most people can’t read the signals. They assume that if someone is hiding the truth, they would hide their face and avoid eye contact. In fact, the opposite is true.

“Liars usually do everything they can to convince you of the truth, sitting still and looking at you to watch your reaction. People simply overestimate their skills in this area.”

The findings emerged in a poll by 20th Century Fox to mark the DVD launch of TV series ‘Lie To Me’ starring Tim Roth as a deception expert who helps to solve crimes.

Jeans are a challenge for most women: Study

They have finally confessed it – nearly every woman owns a secret pair of “skinny jeans” which she hopes to diet her way back into, a new Australian study has found.

What’s more, study by the Young Women’s Christian Association found that about 70 per cent admit holding onto the hope that too small clothes will eventually fit them.

However, experts have warned women about the dangers of dieting, reports The Courier Mail.

Body image expert Professor Marika Tiggemann said that while women spent time, money and energy on worrying about being thinner, it was “a waste”.

The expert added that many women suffered under the “false hope” they were going to drop several sizes.

“Most of the advice you get from the positive body image stuff is to throw away things that don’t fit and buy good clothes that fit you now,’’ she said.

The survey also found three-quarters of women were unhappy with their body size.

They have finally confessed it – nearly every woman owns a secret pair of “skinny jeans” which  she hopes to diet her way back into, a new Australian study has found.

What’s more, study by the Young Women’s Christian Association found that about 70 per cent  admit holding onto the hope that too small clothes will eventually fit them.

However, experts have warned women about the dangers of dieting, reports The Courier Mail.

Body image expert Professor Marika Tiggemann said that while women spent time, money and  energy on worrying about being thinner, it was “a waste”.

The expert added that many women suffered under the “false hope” they were going to drop several sizes.

“Most of the advice you get from the positive body image stuff is to throw away things that don’t fit and buy good clothes that fit you now,’’ she said.

The survey also found three-quarters of women were unhappy with their body size.

Hooked and healthy

“I Do” makes men healthy says a new study. Householders familiar with both sides of the coin give their verdict

Here’s news for all commitment-phobic men — getting hitched is good for health. Researchers at the University of Arizona found that a long marriage lowers a man’s chance of developing serious health problems and is more effective in guarding against fatal diseases than giving up smoking. Marriage reduces a man’s risk of developing ailments by 10.34 per cent and trumps the benefits of normal pressure levels and of not smoking. These statistics are indicative of the effects of having strong social bonds, say scientists. Do men who have tasted the shaadi ka laddoo agree? Read on.

Anish

(Insurance professional)

Marriage turns your lifestyle upside down. My wife pushes me to work out more often, the house is infinitely cleaner now; I eat breakfast regularly and watch my diet.

Mentally, I’m not so sure! There are restrictions, you have to deal with moods and family. But it has made me more serious and responsible.

Adil Marawala

(Creative writer)

A nine-year-old relationship (three as a married couple) is my recipe for good health. Earlier, I never found time for exercising. But thanks to my wife, I have now joined a fitness programme. It’s great fun to keep tabs and help each other lose weight. Even if we fight, I remind myself that we’re burning calories.

Being in a long commitment is comforting. Your partner cheers you up when you are low. The comfort and security does a world of good.

Saurab Chaturvedi

(Strategy planner)

If you marry the right person, for the right reason, it is undoubtedly good for you. You feel positive and supported, a boon in these stressful lives. More importantly, you do things with a sense of stability and structure. You think long-term — be it joining a gym or buying a house. The same experiences have a new facet. I have re-ignited my love for theatre and enjoy evenings out with my wife.

Physically too, I have become more aware. Men can be quite competitive about the way they look. Contrary to popular belief, after marriage you tend to get more conscious about that flabby arm, pot belly or double chin!

Mit Sethi

(Freelance consultant )

If marriage makes a man healthy, does it mean a twice-married man is healthier than the rest? These studies should be taken with a pinch of salt.

My first marriage lasted 23 years before my wife passed away. I remarried, but separated few years later. In both relationships, my health was the same! After my first marriage, I gained a lot more kilos, but never had any major health problems.

A good relationship takes care of your worries which contributes to good health. If your relationship gives you tension, obviously, there will be other problems too.

“I Do” makes men healthy says a new study. Householders familiar with both sides of the coin give their verdict

Here’s news for all commitment-phobic men — getting hitched is good for health. Researchers at the University of Arizona found that a long marriage lowers a man’s chance of developing serious health problems and is more effective in guarding against fatal diseases than giving up smoking. Marriage reduces a man’s risk of developing ailments by 10.34 per cent and trumps the benefits of normal pressure levels and of not smoking. These statistics are indicative of the effects of having strong social bonds, say scientists. Do men who have tasted the shaadi ka laddoo agree? Read on.

Anish (Insurance professional)

Marriage turns your lifestyle upside down. My wife pushes me to work out more often, the  house is infinitely cleaner now; I eat breakfast regularly and watch my diet.

Mentally, I’m not so sure! There are restrictions, you have to deal with moods and family. But it  has made me more serious and responsible.

Adil Marawala (Creative writer)

A nine-year-old relationship (three as a married couple) is my recipe for good health. Earlier, I never found time for  exercising. But thanks to my wife, I have now joined a fitness programme. It’s great fun to keep tabs and help each other lose  weight. Even if we fight, I remind myself that we’re burning calories.Being in a long commitment is comforting. Your partner cheers you up when you are low. The comfort and security does a world of good.

Saurab Chaturvedi  (Strategy planner)

If you marry the right person, for the right reason, it is undoubtedly good for you. You feel positive and supported, a  boon in these stressful lives. More importantly, you do things with a sense of stability and structure. You think long-  term — be it joining a gym or buying a house. The same experiences have a new facet. I have re-ignited my love for  theatre and enjoy evenings out with my wife.Physically too, I have become more aware. Men can be quite competitive about the way they look. Contrary to popular belief, after marriage you tend to get more conscious about that flabby arm, pot belly or double chin!

Mit Sethi (Freelance consultant )

If marriage makes a man healthy, does it mean a twice-married man is healthier than the rest? These studies should be taken  with a pinch of salt.

My first marriage lasted 23 years before my wife passed away. I remarried, but separated few years later. In both relationships,  my health was the same! After my first marriage, I gained a lot more kilos, but never had any major health problems.

A good relationship takes care of your worries which contributes to good health. If your relationship gives you tension, obviously, there will be other problems too.

An attractive boss is distracting

Advice: Earn juniors’ respect, so that your looks cease to matter so much

For many movie buffs, the “real” favourite line in the 1992 Oscar-nominated movie, A Few Good Men, is not Jack Nicholson’s words in the final courtroom climax, but the one at the very start, when he makes this nasty and lewd remark at Tom Cruise about the latter working for a pretty boss (Demi Moore). Unprintable as it may be, it turns out that Nicholson was right — having an attractive boss of the opposite sex can be a challenge, workwise.

A recent study of nearly 2,000 British executives showed that working for a pretty or handsome boss has more pitfalls than one may expect. This study, commissioned by HireScores.com, Britain’s leading recruitment scoring website, found that nearly half of men (47 per cent ) maintain that an attractive female boss would distract them too much, resulting in lower productivity and higher testosterone levels! And, 53 per cent of women who work for an attractive male boss claim they would be far too intimidated, getting flustered during one-on-ones, blushing when he catches their gaze and controlling their giggling when he’s around.

Despite being a small-sample study, covering 1,886 people, the conclusion is this: for majority of British, the more attractive the boss, the lower the productivity.

Highscores.com offers some advice: for women, avoidance is key, whereas for men, this is a chance to show off their intelligence, dress to impress and woo their boss in meetings.

Grouping people based on sex will not help either. When asked how they would feel working for an attractive boss of the same sex, 86 per cent of men admitted they would feel threatened and 61 per cent of women admit they would feel jealous of their attractive female manager. Only 11 per cent of men and 26 per cent of women say an attractive boss of the same sex would not affect them or their productivity in the slightest.

Commenting on the findings, Lisette Howlett, founder of HireScores.com said, “Regardless of someone’s appearance, within the workplace their job title is the only label they should hold. Clearly, someone’s appearance should be just as irrelevant as their age, gender or race. This survey demonstrates, however, that the extent to which someone feels comfortable with their manager impacts on their ability to do their jobs. All managers — super attractive or not — need to establish effective professional relationships with their people. They need to think about their leadership style and impact and develop this, so that it works across the board — this includes how they dress, how they mix with their teams, how they project their authority.”

“Managers need to deal sensitively with this issue, as with any other issue where something is getting in the way of a productive and effective workplace. It can, however, be more difficult, since the manager themselves is the ‘cause’, so to speak. It also raises the very real issue that managers need to maintain a sensible distance between themselves and their staff. It is fine to sometimes relax and have fun but it must never be forgotten that unless the management/staff relationship is kept professional, there will be problems at some point in the working relationship. If managers earn the respect of their people, then at some point their looks will cease to be so relevant.”

Love not enough to make a marriage work

Love has no major role to play in keeping couples together. In fact, the chances of a couple staying together are affected by age, previous

and smoking.

That’s the conclusion of a new study, which was conducted by researchers at the Australian National University.

To reach the conclusion, boffins spent six years monitoring 2,500 couples who were married or living together, reports The Daily Express.

The study found that money played a major factor in deciding whether a couple stand the test of time.

The study, entitled “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, showed that a quarter of partnerships and marriages will end within six years and half will be over within 25 years.

It also found that a husband who is nine or more years older than his wife is twice as likely to get divorced, as are husbands who get married before they turn 25.

Couples were twice as likely to split if the wife had a much stronger preference for children or for more of them. Smoking and drinking rates also contributed to relationship breakdown, the study found.

Love has no major role to play in keeping couples together. In fact, the chances of a couple staying together are affected by age, previous relationships and smoking.

That’s the conclusion of a new study, which was conducted by researchers at the Australian National University.

To reach the conclusion, boffins spent six years monitoring 2,500 couples who were married or living together, reports The Daily Express.

The study found that money played a major factor in deciding whether a couple stand the test of time.

The study, entitled “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, showed that a quarter of partnerships and marriages will end within six years and half will be over within 25 years.

It also found that a husband who is nine or more years older than his wife is twice as likely to get divorced, as are husbands who get married before they turn 25.

Couples were twice as likely to split if the wife had a much stronger preference for children or for more of them. Smoking and drinking rates also contributed to relationship breakdown, the study found.

Aggressive, not nice, women earn big bucks at work

Being a nice girl would not take you ahead of others in the professional race, for a new study suggests that being aggressive and having a

Being aggressive helps at workplace (Getty Images)

masculine approach is what makes you earn big bucks at workplace.

The academic study has shown that “alpha male” women earn an average of 40,000 pounds more over their lifetime than female colleagues who are “nice”.

It was found that personality traits are just as important as intelligence in determining how much people earn in their career.

The team found “alpha male” women earn 4 per cent more than those who are deemed to be “passive”-this amount to 40,000 pounds over a lifetime, based on a 40-year career with a 25,000 pounds annual wage.

Scottish businesswoman Michelle Mone, chief executive of the Ultimo lingerie company, agreed that having an assertive manner had aided her success.

Led by Guido Heineck, the study titled ‘Does it Pay to be Nice?’ also showed that “conscientious” women, who display self-control and persistence, generally earn 5 per cent more than sloppy colleagues.

Heineck, from the Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg, Germany, said personality traits such as “agreeableness” were not beneficial in the workplace.

“Our statistics show that being nice does not pay for women, whereas working hard does. This is probably, in part, because agreeable people are too passive in conflict situations and poorer in wage negotiations,” The Scotsman quoted him as saying.

He added: “Traditionally, women are more passive and likeable at work. This (research] shows that to be successful in the workplace women have to adapt a more alpha male-like behaviour.”

The study was presented at a conference at Essex University.

Being a nice girl would not take you ahead of others in the professional race, for a new study suggests that being aggressive and having a masculine approach is what makes you earn big bucks at workplace.

The academic study has shown that “alpha male” women earn an average of 40,000 pounds more over their lifetime than female colleagues who are “nice”.

It was found that personality traits are just as important as intelligence in determining how much people earn in their career.

The team found “alpha male” women earn 4 per cent more than those who are deemed to be “passive”-this amount to 40,000 pounds over a lifetime, based on a 40-year career with a 25,000 pounds annual wage.

Scottish businesswoman Michelle Mone, chief executive of the Ultimo lingerie company, agreed that having an assertive manner had aided her success.

Led by Guido Heineck, the study titled ‘Does it Pay to be Nice?’ also showed that “conscientious” women, who display self-control and persistence, generally earn 5 per cent more than sloppy colleagues.

Heineck, from the Institute for Employment Research in Nuremberg, Germany, said personality traits such as “agreeableness” were not beneficial in the workplace.

“Our statistics show that being nice does not pay for women, whereas working hard does. This is probably, in part, because agreeable people are too passive in conflict situations and poorer in wage negotiations,” The Scotsman quoted him as saying.

He added: “Traditionally, women are more passive and likeable at work. This (research] shows that to be successful in the workplace women have to adapt a more alpha male-like behaviour.”

The study was presented at a conference at Essex University.