...to smarter-than-average women, that is. Or at least so says an article in Psychology Today about University of Michigan graduate student Christine Stanik's research findings.
Stanik, whose research focuses on mate selection and romantic entanglements, found that the higher a college woman's IQ, the less she valued a high-earner as mate potential. The study also found that women with higher IQs were less likely to believe in or appreciate stereotypical gender roles in romantic relationships.
So what does this mean for dating singles? Stanik felt that the women in the study were saying they had no issue with being the breadwinner (as well as waiting much longer than previous generations to partner and mate), and therefore weighed a man's ability to be a supportive partner and parent more heavily than his ability to bring home the bacon. This in turn is also good news for the guys out there hoping to attract a smarty-pants gal, as they'll have more time to perfect their lifestyle before settling down.
But what do you think? Do smarter women appreciate money and gender stereotypes less than the average gal? Are you a woman with a higher IQ, and if so, do these things matter to you when dating or in a relationship?
More Dating Research: Are Taller People More Jealous?, Stubbly Men More Appealing, Smell Dating?, Choose Your Dating Email Language Wisely.
This is ironic, as it is typically the men that hold blue collar type jobs that are intimidated by successful women. Good news for the average American man, right?! Sounds to me like you can have your cake, and eat it too! Go get ‘em boys!
The part about college women not needing successful men is ridiculous. Speaking as a college graduate, I wouldn’t be interested in someone who isn’t at least on my level in terms of education and status. A man probably wrote this.
Well, I can attest that I’m not male (I wrote the blog post), and the person who undertook the study isn’t as well.
The study didn’t say women didn’t need successful men. Not at all! What the study found was that intelligent women didn’t place a man’s earning potential as high on their list of wants/needs in a partner. Money ISN’T everything for higher IQ women – or so the study says.
I’ll be the first to agree with this finding on a personal level; I’ve never found a man’s income to be of any consequence (to me).
LAdies who completely disagree with the study possibly lack the high IQ required to place other qualities of a man before his earning potential. I have good education btw. I went through so much hell with one of my high earning boyfriends that I actually took a lot of time to find a man who has good values. Both males have graduate education as well. Money isn”t everything. Golden cages dont make women happy.
I agree wholeheartedly with the findings of the study; I’ve lived it. In fact, I am apprehensive toward men who have higher than average incomes, because my general experiences have made me correlate wealth with less than desirable qualities in those who possess it. Not that I’m perfect.
I think it depends, though, on why he earns less. Is he doing something “noble” or is he just a deadbeat? I have to think that the latter would bother all women, no matter their IQ.
I have several good friends who are single males…they may be very glad to hear this news! Do you think it’s possible that average-income men are intimidated by high-IQ, college grad women, or do men prefer women with brains and degrees?
As a smarter-than-average woman, I definitely agree that money isn’t everything. In my current relationship, he makes more than I do. In my previous dating relationship, I made more than him. I think it makes more of a difference for guys though.
The love of my life was a brilliant actor, sometimes employed, sometimes not. I never cared. What was important was that we shared a love of theater, a love of words, and love.
It means that a woman does NOT HAVE TO BE A GOLD DIGGER because she can support herself. Some women that do not make money look for men to support them instead of trying to improve themselves. To the women that says she will only date on her “LEVEL” money is not what makes the man. There are plenty of college graduates that are idiots. Judge each person individually.
My boyfriend makes less money than I do, but he is just as smart as me if not smarter! LOL
He loves his job. He is not a slave to money. My last boyfriend was rich. He made way more money than me and he was miserable. To pick a man because of his wealth is sad.
Sadly, the norm is that women often side with wealth and hegemonic principles because most women, and men, have no interest in learning, “why our social lives are the way the are”. They just go along and never question it. We live a capitalist money and status/privilege obsessed society so like it or not, this is what the average person looks for. Education is not accessible or appreciated by most people so the majority of the population suffers in terms of mate selection because they all want to “get ahead”. No pun intended… Intelligence is the romance of the Gods…
Having a blue collar job doesnt make you stupid just like having a job such as a doctor doesnt make you smart — perhaps a good Parrot.
I agree with LKL. I can see not wanting a partner for financial reasons: I can definitely look after myself and have been for a long time but as a woman I cant see anything wrong in a man who in case bad times befall me can provide the basics. Why not? Also there is not enough information on the study :the procedures employed , sample size , geographic (demographic) factors for me to agree or disagree. This is just one study and one needs a lot more in life than that to alter ones thinking and biological instinct…
This is ridiculous. For me, I will never be with a guy that doesn’t have the qualifications for meeting my parents. I will really love to have a rich men boyfriend rather than having a boyfriend that we are the same for being the bread winner of our family. If you are single then enjoy dating with rich men!
This is the worst article I have ever read. This encourages men to be lazy sloths and live off their women. If your chic is making more than you- than you gotta problem!
No one’s going to date me while I’m dirt poor. Thank goodness! Now, How do I just get action?
I can safely consider myself to be a woman with a fairly high IQ, and while I can agree that I don’t really care much about how much a man makes, I’m completely turned off by someone who can’t keep up with me intellectually or has no ambition or goals. As long as he doesn’t plan on being dependent on someone else or just being a bum, what he does decide to do doesn’t really matter to me.