Career women can’t find partners with deep pockets

More women are choosing to be single because they cannot find men who make as much money as they do.

That's according to a study done at the Cornell University in the US. The study, which was published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, had Cornell sociologists claiming that the country is facing a 'broke dude crisis', which has left many successful single women disgruntled.

Dr Leith Dunn, head of the Mona Unit of University of the West Indies' Institute for Gender and Development Studies, told THE STAR that a similar situation exists here in Jamaica, and this is caused mainly by the gap in the level of education being attained by women versus men.

Less education

"Men and women are not pursuing education at the same level. Men can get by with less education," she said, noting that things like an 'old boys network', where men might get a 'bly' are part of the reason.

So men may "not have the same qualifications as the woman and get the job".

"Although this is changing, it's still not a level playing field," she said.

"There are women who will be earning more. If you have a woman who is educated, she is looking for a partner who is her equivalent and may not 'date down' to someone who is less educated or in an occupation that she doesn't consider of a similar status. So plumbers might earn a lot of money, but a woman with a university degree in medicine, would she consider dating him?" she added.

Sandra, a public relations practitioner, agrees with the study.

She said when it comes to choosing a partner, the amount of money a man earns is a priority.

"I do factor in what he earns, but I also think about all the different elements that would make him a good partner. But I don't want to be the one holding us down all the time. I want a man who can contribute, basically mi nuh haffi a mind no man," she said.

- S.S.