Link: https://www.qut.edu.au/news?id=132457

“We found that women are more specific than men in their preference up until the age of 40, then males become pickier than females from 40 years old onwards.”

  • Across all age groups (18-80) women are more likely than men to state a preference
  • Women in peak fertility are more picky about the education level of men they prefer; seeking the same level or higher in a potential mate
  • Over 40, men become more picky than women about the education level of their partner

Dr Whyte said their research showed the education level of a potential mate mattered more for both men and women in the years of peak fertility (18-30 years), but becomes less and less important as we age.

“However, for all age groups in our sample, women had a clearly higher minimum standard for the education level they wanted in their mate,” he said.

“Evolution favours women who are highly selective about their mates and in many cultures, women have been shown to use education as an indicator of quality because it is often associated with social status and intelligence – both attributes that are highly sought after.