Should females prefer dominant males?

It is generally believed that success in male-male competition genuinely re flects high quality and that female preference for dominant males should th erefore be widespread. However, recent studies suggest that male dominance is not always attractive and that it does not necessarily predict superior parental quality, better genes or other forms of benefit to females. In fac t, the costs of choosing a dominant male can sometimes outweigh the benefit s. When traits selected by male-male competition do not reflect overall mat e quality, females are expected to use other choice cues and might occasion ally prefer subordinate males. Thus, male-male competition and female choic e can sometimes work in different, or even opposing, directions.