Smart Girls Marry Money

[jeffrey]

"It's as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one." Some elderly aunt probably offered that advice at some point and you probably dismissed it. You vowed to marry only when you found The One, and his bank account would not be a factor. That's certainly the prevailing view of marriage, American style, in 2009. It's supposed to be a love match between two people who somehow sense that they are meant to be together forever. Admiring her intended's bottom line (the financial one, that is) automatically makes a woman a gold digger. Even the late Anna Nicole Smith, no rocket scientist, understood that being accused of marrying just for money was an insult. She married oil tycoon Howard Marshall Smith when he was 89 and she was 26. "It just so happens," she once said, "that I get turned on by liver spots."

In June, the prime month for weddings, it may seem heretical to suggest that romantic love is not the only requirement for a successful marriage. But that's what the authors of a provocative new book advocate. In Smart Girls Marry Money,Elizabeth Ford, a news producer, and Daniela Drake, a physician, argue that despite the gains women have made in the last few decades, we still earn considerably less than men (especially if we are mothers). A husband's paycheck is still critical. "We gals just haven't come far enough or fast enough," they say. "We know it's important to take the long view of things, but as we've heard said, in the long view, we'll all be dead...

Does it Make Sense for Women to Marry for Money? | Newsweek Voices - Her Body | Newsweek.com

[tmvijai]

Totally an interesting and intriguing article. It wasn't surprise to see arranged marriage mentioned in part of it. As India is one among many countries where arranged marriage is really the predominate type. It is because our Indian Heritage and culture truly supports arrange marriage for many reasons. But India is going thru its own changes of shifting to western views. In the recent years, I see lot of romatic relationships. There were mixed results.

As a person who got arranged marriage, I like to say Money does matter but Romance has no part to play until marriage because we didnn't meet each other and spend days together before wedding. It is the trust, honest, family upbringing, social values everyting molds the relationship to make a good family.

I have no doubt arrange marraige becomes famous in America as its already making it rounds.

[akrogers]

My mom used to say that! Some of the values that I find attractive in a partner are intelligence, ambition, resourcefulness etc., which are more often than not correlated with a higher income.

[wnlbutterfly]

My MIL was saying that to my DD (20), and I replied. "Well, if you use that rule, then none of your three sons would be married would they?". DUH

We just celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary yesterday, we certainly didn't marry for money because neither of us had a dime. I am sure some things would have been easier for us if we had, but yet with money comes other situations too.

[rob62521]

Originally Posted by wnlbutterfly

We just celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary yesterday, we certainly didn't marry for money because neither of us had a dime. I am sure some things would have been easier for us if we had, but yet with money comes other situations too.

Congratulations!

[rob62521]

OK, I didn't marry for money, but one thing I was kind of picky about, I wanted him to have a job! And we had to have some of the same opinions about how we handled that money.

A friend of mine just divorced (three months ago) because she found her hubby boring, but just remarried (two weeks ago) a guy who makes less than a third of what she makes. Right now she's enthralled, but this gal is into retail therapy big time...why buy one of something when four are more fun? Anyway, I predict she will find this third husband "boring" after awhile when she gets done with the emotional roller coaster she is on.

[ClearClouds]

Thats how it is in LA

[MonkeyMama]

Originally Posted by akrogers

My mom used to say that! Some of the values that I find attractive in a partner are intelligence, ambition, resourcefulness etc., which are more often than not correlated with a higher income.

Bingo!

I'd be the first to say money isn't important, itself.

But also first to say I would expect a spouse with ambition, brains, work ethic, and money sense. Survival of the fittest!

[wincrasher]

Smart gals look beyond a tight butt, pearly teeth and nice hair.