I’m not looking it up, but there was a thing I remember seeing a little while ago that there literally is a biological motive towards women seeking out men with pathetic traits.

It’s to do with seeking out potential partners that are either submissive or dominant, depending on what you’re into. It’s a non specific to gender desire to form a pairing with a clear dominant party. I don’t think it’s universal or anything, but it’s something people are into.

Pretty sure I saw this through a look into why women are into waterboy from dispatch actually.