An article published on The Mail Online on 29th July of this year states that ‘A generation of high-flying women cannot find eligible men that they would consider marrying, and this is down to their lack of degrees and high incomes.’ It seems women are skewing the marriage statistics and admirably refusing to settle for less than what they want.
The date was compiled over three years by the US Census Bureau, instances where only one half of a couple works has halved in the last 40 years. With the education gap between the sexes widening, many women who naturally seek a partner to be their equal are simply staying single rather than marrying a man with less qualifications or who earns less money.
Harry Benson, director at the Marriage Foundation suggested that traditional views towards marriage are slowly being rejected. It isn’t to say that the institution itself is on the turn, it isn’t the idea of being someone’s wife that seems unpalatable.
Susanna Abse, a psychoanalytical psychotherapist reckons that both sexes are to blame for this drought of sorts. Holding one’s partner to unrealistic standards professionally can kill the relationship.
It’s also argued that it may not be a rejection of traditional ideals after all because women still prefer professional men and many prefer a man who has an income that is about 66% higher than theirs. Abse calls these ideals a ‘fantasy idea’ and implies that it can be problematic and detrimental to a loving relationship.
That is, then, what this concerns, the components of what constitutes a happy marriage. It poses questions about whether the women discussed are empowered or unrealistic in their goals.
Marrying for love and money are often discussed as two opposite ends of the spectrum but in truth, it’s likely they have some bearing on each other. You fall in love with the person and that person is comprised of many things, their professional qualities are not separate from that.
Marriage is an investment and so all things considered those choosing to wait or not all depends on the person. Success in your career can depend on who you build your life with and being more discerning, not less, is surely a good thing.
