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  1. Women’s desire for wealthy partners drops when they have more economic power.

    A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that what people look for in a romantic partner changes depending on their financial situation and the broader economic equality between men and women. The findings provide evidence that the traditional tendency for women to prefer wealthier partners might fade as women gain more economic power. This adaptability points to a high level of flexibility in human romantic desires.

    For decades, scientists have debated why men and women often prioritize different traits in romantic partners. In many cultures, women tend to prefer partners with financial resources. Men tend to prioritize youth and physical beauty.

    Some scientists argue that these differences stem from human evolution. This perspective suggests that ancient survival needs shaped modern minds. Because ancestral women faced the physical demands of pregnancy and nursing, they may have evolved to seek partners who could provide material resources.

    Other scientists suggest these preferences are the result of cultural expectations. This perspective proposes that the traditional division of labor between men as providers and women as homemakers created these desires. According to this view, people simply adapt to the roles society assigns them.

    Past research on this topic has mostly relied on observing natural differences across various countries. These observational methods have led to heavy disagreement because many cultural and economic factors are mixed together in the real world. For instance, wealthier women might report different preferences, but they also tend to live in wealthier, more equal societies.

    For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

    https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2527295123

  2. Careful-Force2506 on

    Isn’t this simply the logical outcome if you grant the premise? If ‘women’ gain more economic power, ‘men’ lose some economic power. If you assume people date at the same rate as pre-shift, isn’t this outcome certain?

  3. >“When women made more money than men, both men and women were equally interested in ‘mating up’ financially,” Murphy told PsyPost.

    Doesn’t this quote from the article go directly against the final sentence of OP?

  4. RunningNumbers on

    I remember that Anesthesiologist friend of a friend who now makes $800k now and wants a husband who makes more than her.

    That is on top of other criteria. Oh lady, statistics are not on your side. All those guys got married long ago (or have severe personality defects.)

    Edit: Bringing this anecdote back into science discourse. Social norms and expectations often move more slowly than material and economic reality. So we witness contradictions that are confounding.

  5. If you create a society where women are financially dependent on men, they prefer men with good finances. Who would’ve thought! I’m glad we’re slowly leaving that age behind

  6. Imo it’s not women preference fading but likely men don’t prefer women with money and less time.

    If the guy is already rich, won’t he prefer someone who has time as he doesn’t need the money?

  7. bigbambuddha on

    Male MD here, I make very decent money. I have been fortunate and/or lucky enough to date some women who made considerably more than me. It was never weird or uncomfortable for me. Funny enough, my last 3 GFs have been older than me. They were each beautiful and lovely people.

  8. Fantastic-Ad-2856 on

    I’m a personal trainer with a wife that makes 3x my income (thank God)

    I’m the arm candy in the relationship

  9. I’ve always made more than the guys I was with. I like not being dependent on a man.

  10. >tendency for women to prefer wealthier partners might fade

    But it doesn’t completely go away. On average, women still don’t pair up with the ones who earn less. It just that the financial requirement goes up in numbers.

  11. freedomfightre on

    They won’t.

    Hypergamy (or however you want to call it PC) will just accelerate. Not enough financially attractive men for all the financially successful women, so they’ll start sharing men, like some already do.

  12. Pineapple-dancer on

    I’m glad to see this. I out earn my husband and I honestly wouldn’t mind what job he did as long as he worked somehow to help pay the bills too. I floated the idea of him being a stay at home dad or working part time when our son was little. My dream is I can make enough someday one salary can go to bills/savings and the other can be fun money/savings.

  13. It fades because they finally realize, and accept, that they’re relatively low value on the dating scale, and they have to settle before some timebombs go off.

  14. Man here. My female ex had a lot of wealth. She didn’t really care I was broke af and valued primarily my emotional availability, intelligence and humor. Which is cool. 

  15. Im a woman who makes good money and i prefer my men to be handsome, muscular with hair (so preferably younger since men go bald pass 30s). I guess once you have the “money” you are allowed to have preferences? If you don’t have money then the only criteria will be money (then you can cheat on your paycheck with the hot young mailman or personal trainer)

  16. chessmasterjj on

    Scientists have determined that wood chucks can indeed chuck a hefty quantity of wood. 

  17. Belladonnaofsad on

    I must be an anomaly, I’m 3 years older than my partner and we both don’t prioritise money. Happiness and fulfilment above everything.

  18. This virtual society study concept sounds worthless honestly. People are terrible at making their imagination match reality.

  19. Gee, ya think? Women could have told them that for free.

    When you have your own money, you don’t have to put up with anything you don’t want to. If a partner doesn’t add value to your life, then bye bye.

  20. SplendidPunkinButter on

    Society: Women are not allowed to have jobs or earn money for themselves.

    Also society: Ugh, women just want to marry men for their money. Disgusting!

  21. Why would they create a simulated scenario instead of simply gathering real-world data on incomes? Asking me to pick a strategy in a game isn’t the same as dating, feeling attraction, and making decisions in real life.

  22. Now women look even more on the physical aspect. Tall and handsome guys living their best lives out there.

  23. Conversely, men’s preference for younger good looking women will also fade.

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