Women find men with more money to be more attractive. It isn't the only factor, ... (2024)

SamPatt on Jan 6, 2020 | next [–]

The book "The Red Queen" by Matt Ridley goes into depth about how men and women choose their mates, based largely on evolutionary biology.

People treat it like a character flaw for a woman to choose a man based on wealth and status, but why? A woman committing to a relationship likely means pregnancy and that requires resources and protection for years and years.

That's how it's been for hundreds of thousands of years. Expecting widespread birth control and changing societal norms to overcome all those years of evolution in only a few generations seems foolish.

hom*onculus1 on Jan 6, 2020 | parent | next [–]

You're right, but the flip side is that men are actively shamed for pursuing their own evolutionary incentives. There are two layers of competition going on, the sexual-economic one and the fluffy interpersonal one, but some people gain leverage by maintaining the fiction that one of them is obsolete. This fiction is enforced by calling everyone who notices it a misogynist or an incel.

NeverFade on Jan 7, 2020 | root | parent | next [–]

Indeed. I don't fault women for preferring wealthy and successful men. I don't fault men for preferring young, beautiful women.

NeverFade on Jan 7, 2020 | parent | prev | next [–]

> That's how it's been for hundreds of thousands of years.

Try "millions" :)

BuckRogers on Jan 6, 2020 | prev [–]

I found my wife when I was unemployed. I wouldn't have it any other way. As a result, I remind myself to never forget it, and be extra good as a husband. Relationships are hard enough, if you're using your income (I had none, was on unemployment), or inheritance (I have none) as a carrot, you're in for a rude awakening someday. Apologies to Red Green, but while I'm not wealthy, I'm just a run of the mill software developer in Chicago.. she does find me handy and handsome!

fuqmachine on Jan 6, 2020 | parent | next [–]

It's not always the money you're currently making that matters. The potential to make money is also subconsciously considered in dating.

NetOpWibby on Jan 6, 2020 | parent | prev | next [–]

Finding a spouse when you aren't well off or rich is the wave. From what I see/hear from my friends, dating is grueling. I've been with my mine for almost a decade.

ithkuil on Jan 6, 2020 | parent | prev | next [–]

attempts at explaining macro-scale socio-economics with the kind of game-theoretic arguments in this thread assume you can nudge one factor while keeping "all other things equal". It's hard to do this with perdonal anecdotes, yet that's what all of us have direct experience of.

antislice on Jan 7, 2020 | parent | prev [–]

I'm mostly impressed that anyone on this hellsite is paraphrasing Red Green.