Joss Whedon

Some want a man who supports feminist views, shoulders half the housework, holds down a decent job - and keeps life funny while doing it all.

Some just hope for a guy who’ll lower the toilet seat and spit out his dip before a holiday dinner.

Women responding to an unscientific Tampa Tribune/TBO.com survey have strong opinions about whom they consider the perfect match.

So did women in 1956, when crooner Perry Como was chosen as the ideal husband. After all, Life magazine proclaimed then, "A basic occupation of virtually every woman is choosing a man to marry."

Others who placed high in the Life-commissioned poll were actors Rock Hudson and Marlon Brando, singer Elvis Presley and the man who would (eventually) be president, Richard Nixon.

Some of the personality traits women sought in a mate 50 years ago still appeal. Now as then, women long for a man who is sincere and has a college degree along with earning potential.

None of the three dozen women responding to the Tribune/TBO.com poll mentioned a man who wanted a large family, something highly coveted in 1956. Nor was a desire to visit relatives particularly important for today’s women.

Bossy men turned off 1950s women, although society at the time clearly crowned men head of the household. Perhaps they just weren’t expected to rub it in. No one mentioned bossiness as a concern today.

These days, a "supportive" man is mentioned time and again. Women also want a man who will accept her children from a previous marriage - not something ’50s women factored into the equation.

A sense of humor has always been a biggie, but so is honesty - unless it involves describing his wife’s appearance in a new pair of pants. Some things never change.

Women today hope for a man who can cook, while in the 1950s, women simply longed for a guy who would occasionally help with the dishes.

Today’s man should be empathetic and understanding, confident and able to communicate. More women today than 50 years ago believe that appearance matters.

Asked who would be an ideal mate, Tampa Bay area women offered these names :

JOHN TRAVOLTA, actor

Silly, sexy, passionate about his family

TOM HANKS, actor

Loyal, devoted to wife, Rita Wilson

WILL SMITH, actor, singer

Seems easy to talk to, loves his kids, nice guy

JOSS WHEDON, creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"

Witty, bright, a feminist, creates strong female characters

CARY GRANT, actor

True "gentle man," intelligent and elegant

CLARK GABLE, actor

Strong in spirit, knows what he wants and gets it