It's been in the back of my mind for a time so I decided to split test a Adword campaign to verify this mystery.

See, I've noticed when I visit news sites, they have a section 'most viewed articles' or something similar.

And every time, without fail a headline mentioning something unusual and a woman, it's always #1. Especially if it involves a woman beating men in a certain thing or exerting power and control:

Lady Teacher Admits To Affair
Woman Refuses To Apologize
Female Solider Kills Insurgents In Firefight

So I was curious, is it the curiosity factor that attracts the response or the female factor?

I think its the female factor beating a man that draws such strong interest. My adword campaign with the headline 'Blonde Woman..." has pulled extremely well.

And another thing, this is just a prediction based on what I've seen but this will be a highly viewed and contributed to thread.

I think you may have skewed your test results by using the term "blonde" - which has all sort of other connotations over and above it being about women, most of whom are not blonde. Would you get the same results if you used the term "grey-haired woman"?

Jane

No, grey haired woman connotates shes old.

Ill go ahead and test brunette and redhead as well just to see. Mind you, another great puller used 'Fat Woman'.

The question remains: why do headlines containing women outclassing men always consistently pull high responses?"

My guess is this is a three-sided coin.

Side one is the old man-bites-dog sense of incongruity.

Side two is men saying "Oh no she didn't!"

Three is Women saying "You Go Girl!"

Sammer said: would this headline fit "she drink like no one!" .

Andy Catsimanes
this is the mean concept, rivality between sex. wemen and men.

but what would be the impact if such headline are made for gay or lesbian community !

this is the question, hope that help, hope to have an answer too

Hey Sammer,

Excellent observation!

Not to sound like a "womans right advocate", but is it possible that folks who read this are actually stunned because they have difficulty believing women are "capable" of doing "anything" that is headline worthy?

Let's look at your three examples:

Lady Teacher Admits To Affair

Are the readers surprised that a woman could actually admit having an affair and live to tell about it? What about her reputation? my, my...


Woman Refuses To Apologize

Is it shocking that women "must" and "should" appologize? If a woman doesn't appologize, then does this imply that she is a B*TCH?

Female Solider Kills Insurgents In Firefight

What? ... a woman actually capable of pulling the trigger and "killing" another human being? What about their "sensitive" side?

What if we try the male gender in these headlines?

Male Teacher Admits To Affair

The only way this would make the headlines is this:
Male Teacher Admits To Affair With 14 Year Old Student While Keeping Her After School.

Woman Refuses To Apologize

try this...

Man Refuses To Apologize For Biting Off His Male Lover's Genitals


Female Solider Kills Insurgents In Firefight

Male Solider "Accidentally" Kills Insurgents In Firefight While Hunting For Rare Quail In Southern Iraq.

From what I can see, the writers here are playing along with how societies look at women and then twisting it a bit to get some attention.

... just some strange and twisted thoughts from a crazed lunatic