Don't Marry Career Women

[Phatie]

Don't Marry Career Women
Forbes ^ | 08.22.06, 6:00 AM ET | Michael Noer

Guys: A word of advice. Marry pretty women or ugly ones. Short ones or tall ones. Blondes or brunettes. Just, whatever you do, don't marry a woman with a career.

Why? Because if many social scientists are to be believed, you run a higher risk of having a rocky marriage. While everyone knows that marriage can be stressful, recent studies have found professional women are more likely to get divorced, more likely to cheat, less likely to have children, and, if they do have kids, they are more likely to be unhappy about it. A recent study in Social Forces, a research journal, found that women--even those with a "feminist" outlook--are happier when their husband is the primary breadwinner.

Not a happy conclusion, especially given that many men, particularly successful men, are attracted to women with similar goals and aspirations. And why not? After all, your typical career girl is well-educated, ambitious, informed and engaged. All seemingly good things, right? Sure…at least until you get married. Then, to put it bluntly, the more successful she is the more likely she is to grow dissatisfied with you. Sound familiar?

Many factors contribute to a stable marriage, including the marital status of your spouse's parents (folks with divorced parents are significantly more likely to get divorced themselves), age at first marriage, race, religious beliefs and socio-economic status. And, of course, many working women are indeed happily and fruitfully married--it's just that they are less likely to be so than non-working women. And that, statistically speaking, is the rub.

To be clear, we're not talking about a high-school dropout minding a cash register. For our purposes, a "career girl" has a university-level (or higher) education, works more than 35 hours a week outside the home and makes more than $30,000 a year.

If a host of studies are to be believed, marrying these women is asking for trouble. If they quit their jobs and stay home with the kids, they will be unhappy ( Journal of Marriage and Family, 2003). They will be unhappy if they make more money than you do ( Social Forces, 2006). You will be unhappy if they make more money than you do ( Journal of Marriage and Family, 2001). You will be more likely to fall ill ( American Journal of Sociology). Even your house will be dirtier ( Institute for Social Research).

Why? Well, despite the fact that the link between work, women and divorce rates is complex and controversial, much of the reasoning is based on a lot of economic theory and a bit of common sense. In classic economics, a marriage is, at least in part, an exercise in labor specialization. Traditionally men have tended to do "market" or paid work outside the home and women have tended to do "non-market" or household work, including raising children. All of the work must get done by somebody, and this pairing, regardless of who is in the home and who is outside the home, accomplishes that goal. Nobel laureate Gary S. Becker argued that when the labor specialization in a marriage decreases--if, for example, both spouses have careers--the overall value of the marriage is lower for both partners because less of the total needed work is getting done, making life harder for both partners and divorce more likely. And, indeed, empirical studies have concluded just that.

In 2004, John H. Johnson examined data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation and concluded that gender has a significant influence on the relationship between work hours and increases in the probability of divorce. Women's work hours consistently increase divorce, whereas increases in men's work hours often have no statistical effect. "I also find that the incidence in divorce is far higher in couples where both spouses are working than in couples where only one spouse is employed," Johnson says. A few other studies, which have focused on employment (as opposed to working hours) have concluded that working outside the home actually increases marital stability, at least when the marriage is a happy one. But even in these studies, wives' employment does correlate positively to divorce rates, when the marriage is of "low marital quality."

The other reason a career can hurt a marriage will be obvious to anyone who has seen their mate run off with a co-worker: When your spouse works outside the home, chances increase they'll meet someone they like more than you. "The work environment provides a host of potential partners," researcher Adrian J. Blow reported in the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, "and individuals frequently find themselves spending a great deal of time with these individuals."

There's more: According to a wide-ranging review of the published literature, highly educated people are more likely to have had extra-marital sex (those with graduate degrees are 1.75 more likely to have cheated than those with high school diplomas.) Additionally, individuals who earn more than $30,000 a year are more likely to cheat.

And if the cheating leads to divorce, you're really in trouble. Divorce has been positively correlated with higher rates of alcoholism, clinical depression and suicide. Other studies have associated divorce with increased rates of cancer, stroke, and sexually-transmitted disease. Plus divorce is financially devastating. According to one recent study on "Marriage and Divorce's Impact on Wealth," published in The Journal of Sociology, divorced people see their overall net worth drop an average of 77%.

So why not just stay single? Because, academically speaking, a solid marriage has a host of benefits beyond just individual "happiness." There are broader social and health implications as well. According to a 2004 paper entitled "What Do Social Scientists Know About the Benefits of Marriage?" marriage is positively associated with "better outcomes for children under most circumstances," higher earnings for adult men, and "being married and being in a satisfying marriage are positively associated with health and negatively associated with mortality." In other words, a good marriage is associated with a higher income, a longer, healthier life and better-adjusted kids.

A word of caution, though: As with any social scientific study, it's important not to confuse correlation with causation. In other words, just because married folks are healthier than single people, it doesn't mean that marriage is causing the health gains. It could just be that healthier people are more likely to be married.

http://www.forbes.com/home/2006/08/2...x_mn_land.html

[WinterlessIceness]

That's all fair. But what are the risks or marrying an offspring of a very rich parents, who already has more money then the one would probably ever earn?

[Buschman]

Oops - I guess I married a career woman. Andrea makes more money than, we have a happy baby boy, and she couldn't be happier. Is life stressful right now, hell yes with a baby now in the mix. But that makes the marriage stronger IMO. So to this study I say "fiddle stixs".

[LoveWalkinIn]

Oops - I guess I married a career woman. Andrea makes more money than, we have a happy baby boy, and she couldn't be happier. Is life stressful right now, hell yes with a baby now in the mix. But that makes the marriage stronger IMO. So to this study I say "fiddle stixs".

"And, of course, many working women are indeed happily and fruitfully married--it's just that they are less likely to be so than non-working women." Based on personal observations, I think this does make sense in many cases.

[ZeoBandit]

If my woman is a career woman and makes more then me, I have no problem with that. I'll retire and sit around the house all day while she brings home the bacon!

[loveevhsince79]

All this says to me is that a woman who is not economically dependant on a man is less likely to put up with their bullshit than a woman who has less options. This statement sums it up:

"A few other studies, which have focused on employment (as opposed to working hours) have concluded that working outside the home actually increases marital stability, at least when the marriage is a happy one. But even in these studies, wives' employment does correlate positively to divorce rates, when the marriage is of "low marital quality."

If it is of low marital quality, they have options but if the marriage is a happy one it increases the marital stability. Wow, rocket science.

And this statement is a duh, "Even your house will be dirtier ( Institute for Social Research)." If the woman doesn't do it, it doesn't get done because God forbid the husband pitch in and do his share. Alot of men love the financial benefits of a woman working but they want their cake and eat it too meaning she better keep the house clean as well. My advice, hire a cleaning service to tidy up once a week if the wife works. With kids, there are more important things to focus on than if your tables are dusty.

[JCJanko]

I'm going to file this in the "duh" files. Kinda like the billion dollar study by Harvard that came to the conclusion soda pop makes people fat. I could only read the first paragraph because it seemed so obvious.

Does it mention how kids are more likely to become fucked up that don't have a parent at home as well? I just think we needed a little more of the "duh" factor. No, not all of these marriages will end in divorce, nor will all kids raised by day care become idiots, but the chances are much higher.

Just call me master of the obvious.

[chefcraig]

Phat, your timing fucking sucks...NOW you tell me?


...craig

[Phatie]

All this says to me is that a woman who is not economically dependant on a man is less likely to put up with their bullshit than a woman who has less options. This statement sums it up:

"A few other studies, which have focused on employment (as opposed to working hours) have concluded that working outside the home actually increases marital stability, at least when the marriage is a happy one. But even in these studies, wives' employment does correlate positively to divorce rates, when the marriage is of "low marital quality."

If it is of low marital quality, they have options but if the marriage is a happy one it increases the marital stability. Wow, rocket science.

And this statement is a duh, "Even your house will be dirtier ( Institute for Social Research)." If the woman doesn't do it, it doesn't get done because God forbid the husband pitch in and do his share. Alot of men love the financial benefits of a woman working but they want their cake and eat it too meaning she better keep the house clean as well. My advice, hire a cleaning service to tidy up once a week if the wife works. With kids, there are more important things to focus on than if your tables are dusty.

I think I need a little more sugar in my coffee after the above post. Bitter bitter, bitter...

Yes we have finally realized something we should have seen coming a long time ago. We give women this angelic on a pedestal status, like they can actually treat us like kings, and realize later on that they are the males who have the balls, who are in control of the purse-strings, and are getting a little lovin' on the side - on girls night out. A woman's primary motivation is to acquire your balls, and show them off to her girlfriends. Now you have none, because they're hers. Get it?

You see guys, the problem is that there is no competition for these gals. That's why they get fat and bitchy. If they actually had to compete with a thinner, sweeter, more agreeable species of female, everything would change back to the way nature intended it.

Find a college educated, 20 something, under 120# female who knows how to cook, loves to do laundry, wants sex 3 times a day, and is not bisexual (don't tell me she hasn't had a 3sum behind your back guys)...and she won't be American, that's for sure.

Marrying a career woman will destroy your life. Its best when you see them to look the other way and don't make eye contact, smile, or give them the time of day if they ask. They have turned the most macho of us into nuetered puppies, and have no respect after they own the balls.

Find a 20 something faithful woman who can cook and clean without complaining, who's under 120 pounds, and you've struck gold.

[loveevhsince79]

Why would you think I'm bitter? Been in the same relationship for 21 yrs, work, raise kids and hubby still gets laid regularly. It's called a partnership. You on the other hand sound bitter that women are not mealy mouth yes women who agreed to be barefoot and pregnant at home to keep a man happy so he feels like a man. I'm not the one posting articles about how life has changed (for the worse in some peoples opinion) since more women are working.

[Pabs]

I think I need a little more sugar in my coffee after the above post. Bitter bitter, bitter...

Yes we have finally realized something we should have seen coming a long time ago. We give women this angelic on a pedestal status, like they can actually treat us like kings, and realize later on that they are the males who have the balls, who are in control of the purse-strings, and are getting a little lovin' on the side - on girls night out. A woman's primary motivation is to acquire your balls, and show them off to her girlfriends. Now you have none, because they're hers. Get it?

You see guys, the problem is that there is no competition for these gals. That's why they get fat and bitchy. If they actually had to compete with a thinner, sweeter, more agreeable species of female, everything would change back to the way nature intended it.

Find a college educated, 20 something, under 120# female who knows how to cook, loves to do laundry, wants sex 3 times a day, and is not bisexual (don't tell me she hasn't had a 3sum behind your back guys)...and she won't be American, that's for sure.

Marrying a career woman will destroy your life. Its best when you see them to look the other way and don't make eye contact, smile, or give them the time of day if they ask. They have turned the most macho of us into nuetered puppies, and have no respect after they own the balls.

Find a 20 something faithful woman who can cook and clean without complaining, who's under 120 pounds, and you've struck gold.

You said it yourself, you need to order a mail-order bride if you want that kind of service. Fuckin' hard to find good help these days.

My woman is a nurse, and of course that counts as a career, but her patients are kids, so I don't have to worry too much. She's obviously more paranoid with me being a consultant and dealing with all kinds of peeps. And I don't mind her working, because together, she and I made a good buck. If she didn't work, our quality of life would blow.

I tell all my married male friends that she'll never own the balls, but they all just laugh. I guess I'm fucked at some point. I had one of these guys tell me about the penny jar experiment. In the first year of marriage, put one penny in the jar for every time you get some action from her. Then after the one year anniversary, you take one out for each time you get some action, and you basically see how long it takes to empty. Probably a whole lifetime.

[Phatie]

You said it yourself, you need to order a mail-order bride if you want that kind of service. Fuckin' hard to find good help these days.

My woman is a nurse, and of course that counts as a career, but her patients are kids, so I don't have to worry too much. She's obviously more paranoid with me being a consultant and dealing with all kinds of peeps. And I don't mind her working, because together, she and I made a good buck. If she didn't work, our quality of life would blow.

I tell all my married male friends that she'll never own the balls, but they all just laugh. I guess I'm fucked at some point. I had one of these guys tell me about the penny jar experiment. In the first year of marriage, put one penny in the jar for every time you get some action from her. Then after the one year anniversary, you take one out for each time you get some action, and you basically see how long it takes to empty. Probably a whole lifetime.

Actually the mail order bride thing is a lazy man's solution, and won't work. You need to travel to other countries where the women are thinner and aren't drunk with power. Meet a nice woman with an education who treats you like a king, and flip the bird to the world.

Competition is the only factor that increases quality. Think outside the rules women have imprisoned you with and find happiness. American woman? Stay away from me!

[Filthy 150]

Find a college educated, 20 something, under 120# female who knows how to cook, loves to do laundry, wants sex 3 times a day, and is not bisexual

You lost me at NOT bisexual.

I read the rest, but so what if she's had a threesome. I bet your junk isn't the only junk she's ever touched. There might even be double digits involved.
And if she's had a threesome it just increases the chance that she'll swing one for you.

[Phatie]

You lost me at NOT bisexual.

I read the rest, but so what if she's had a threesome. I bet your junk isn't the only junk she's ever touched. There might even be double digits involved.
And if she's had a threesome it just increases the chance that she'll swing one for you.

Right, so I'll pass on the group sex with a girl I want to marry so her brain is healthy.

Unfortunately, immorality and obedience cannot coexist. The main mistake the male race made was to encourage their women to screw around with other women. Now they don't need us except in the case of child support/alimony. This is exactly why a career women seek out a man in a higher income bracket; so they can retire on his paycheck & still have a life.

All the cards are played, and there is no way that american males can ever get it back. We've been conquered, and they know exactly how to nail our nuts to the wall. So, my advise is to find a different market, so the buyers compete. Our worth, as males, will continue to plummet as long as there is a glut of balls on silver platters for the taking.

[Filthy 150]

[QUOTE=Phatie]
Unfortunately, immorality and obedience cannot coexist. [QUOTE]


Obedience? Do you want a wife or a pet?

And morality is one of the grayest arguments one can get into.