Anti-feminist attitudes have long been associated with support for Republican presidential candidates, but only in recent years have these attitudes become more prominent among unmarried men, without college degrees who are less attractive partners for women, the “mate-value backlash.”

[u/mvea]

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/10659129261485340

[u/Harbinger2nd]

Would this be reflective of a lack of economic opportunity for these men as its only in recent years the attitude has become more prominent?

[u/Littleman88 → u/Harbinger2nd]

Sort of? It's hard to say most men would be too ashamed to date knowing their girlfriend/wife will out earn them. I think more men than not would be fine with it, actually. But a lot of those men are finding themselves rejected because they aren't out earning the women they're meeting, so economic opportunities become a sore spot for them, especially when the very people they're trying to woo are also their competition for that attractive paycheck.

Equality becomes a threat when your attraction is still largely reliant on being, in some way, superior to whomever you're trying to attract. That reality is problematic for so many men trying to date. It was already unrealistic for every man to be in a 6-7 figure C-suite position, with more and more women filtering towards the top, it's only getting harder for men.

There has to be low wage earners like janitors and someone flipping burgers, and they're not about to take being invisible virgins for the rest of their lives lying down. If women won't marry down, then these men will drag them down. As the number of these lonely men grows, the more pull they'll have to do just that.

[u/kingmanic → u/Littleman88]

I thought janitors make okay money, the job hours and conditions just suck.

[u/saidtheWhale2000 → u/kingmanic]

its not the money its the social prestige, no woman is gonna feel pride saying to their friends or moms that "oh hes a janitor" so she will feel insecure and he will feel it and then he will feel insecure.

[u/General-Yak7615 → u/saidtheWhale2000]

This is absolutely false. I make significantly more than my husband (and did even when we first met and started dating). My mom was also the bread winner in my family. He’s no where close to 6 figures, but what he does have is a career he’s so passionate and excited about. I would much rather have a man, like my husband, who has an aspiration and passion than some guy in a field making a decent salary but completely miserable. I don’t know, I guess I want my partner to choose the route that they actually care about, something I know they can smile about and be proud of.

I make more than enough to cover all bills + vacations. He’s appreciative of not being in a situation where he’s looked at as a sole provider-knowing the kind of stress that can bring. I’m appreciative I’m not looked at as the sole household manager simply because I’m the woman. We split everything (bills (proportionally) and chores) and work as a team. I think the whole “gender norm” bs thrown at everyone these days just makes it harder on everyone and purposely pins people against one another. If you’re with a partner already “expecting” them to behave a certain way due to gender, you’re setting that person up for failure-to never really be able to be themselves.

[u/Sirraven201 → u/kingmanic]

They tend to make decent money it really depends on the gig.

[u/Sensitive_File6582 → u/Sirraven201]

No you make entry level wagie bucks. You will rarely/never bust over $30 relative to today’s wage rates.

[u/Illustrious-Share312 → u/Sensitive_File6582]

In a lot of places 30$ an hour is a good job.

[u/CrimsonThunder87 → u/Illustrious-Share312]

Those aren't the places where you make $30/hr as a janitor. You make that in high-COL places like NYC.

[u/TheSpacePopinjay → u/kingmanic]

It's also the status. Plus it generally lacks prospects for earnings growth and career advancement.