The genders shape each other is subtle and not-so-subtle ways

[enchanted]

Here's just one example: menopause is created from men's desire for younger women. Source: NPR https://share.google/rWiwGoflCIxdSn12h

What role have women played in shaping men's personalities and physical appearance? 

Perhaps a better understanding of this leads can lead to a better understanding of how relationships work.

[Lila9]

I don't agree that menopause was created because of male preferences for young women.

As stated in the article, all primates go through menopause. It is not clear how the "evolutionary" researchers concluded that the reason for menopause in humans and other primates is different.

The reason for menopause is the same for all, and it is simpler: it is a natural process as part of aging, which every living organism experiences.

Men also experience fertility decline around their 40s. This is just less talked about, but men around this age (and even earlier) begin to suffer from signs of infertility.

In fact, about 50% of unsuccessful pregnancies are due to male infertility:

https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menshealth/conditioninfo/infertility

The desire of younger men for younger women is natural and harmonious, as both are at the peak of their fertility.

Meanwhile, the desire of older men for younger women is unnatural and socially constructed by patriarchy.

It is about power and submission, not about love or healthy offspring.

A young woman who sleeps with a young man, fertile as she is, is more likely to get pregnant and have healthier children than a young woman who sleeps with an older man.

For both older men and women, there are hormonal changes and a decline in fertility as they enter a new period of their lives, the wise period.

However, patriarchal societies treat older men with respect, while older women are shamed by patriarchy for simply aging because older women are wiser and not easy to control and are not eager to please. 

This social shaming of aging women causes much of the pain and discomfort experienced by modern women during menopause.

In pre-patriarchal, Indigenous cultures, menopause was celebrated as a “second spring,” an entrance into a wiser and more mature period of life, with women’s wisdom and life experience channeled toward occupying respected leadership positions in their communities.

The process of transitioning from being fertile to experiencing menopause was smoother and more seamless in those communities because women were not shamed or ignored as human beings merely for aging.

[enchanted]

Menopause is not a negative or shameful thing nor does the article suggest it. However it is still an evolutionary mystery.

It's interesting to think about that things we like (or dislike) about ourselves and even take credit for could be partly shaped by the opposite sex!