It may not be love at first sight, but the prospect of finding a wife who can pay off your student debt is tantalizing—at least for over 40 percent of Millennial men surveyed by Varo Money recently.
Throwing romanticism out the door, of 1,000 adults surveyed last month by mobile banking company Varo, 41 percent of men said they would marry someone who earns more than they do in order to help them pay off mounting debts.
That’s four out of 10 men in the 20s and 30s. And more than 50 percent admitted that money is a factor when choosing whom to marry.
And it’s not terribly unrealistic when you consider that 36 percent of American women are earning more than whoever their dating or married to.
It’s a far cry from the long-prevailing (forever prevailing) psychosis of the male ego that has always felt threatened by a woman who earns more—or even the same.
The Millennial male ego is much harder to bruise. Gone are the days when the male breadwinners of the family does something like pretend to be at work after having been fired to avoid the shame of not being able to provide for his family.
The onus is now falling to women—a trend that is set to gain momentum given the Millennial male mindset.
According to Varo, only 15 percent of Millennial women are looking to marry for money, or the ability to pay off debt.
And men—more than one out of three—believe that relationships see positive romantic changes for the when their female partner is out-earning them. That in itself opens up a Pandora’s box of dark room psychology that is better left unaddressed …
It’s a healthy attitude to have, though, at a time when the trend is for women’s income to rise and men’s to fall.
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"Millennials have a lot of unique money issues that other generations have not faced — student loans, housing costs, a changing economy — and that means they must be on top of their finances," said Emily Brauer Gill, director of brand and communications at Varo.
It may not be entirely egalitarian, but the trend is clear.
According to a Pew Research study, it’s been slow-going. It took 35 years (1980-2015) to narrow the wage gap between men and women by only 20 cents. And the Institute for Women’s Policy Research predicts wage equality by 2059.
The Millennial attitude might be the element that entirely reinvents romance, income equality and gender roles in the family. If Millennial men are not only willing to earn less but looking forward to having their partner pay off their debt, then 2059 might arrive a lot sooner than we think—and women might be wondering if it’s worth it.
By Josh Owens for Safehaven.com
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