The Social Role Theory and Mate Selection, says that sex differences are adaptations to gender roles that result from present – day social realities rather than from natural selection pressures that arouse in a bygone evolutionary era (Eagly & Wood, 1999).
In many cases, I believe that intimacy and the natural selection of relationships have suffered greatly because of today’s economically troubled world and due to the crisis of survival. I believe that some woman, choose men who can provide security first, with all other factors listed as second and third and so on. Aside from beauty and easy access to sex, many men often choose woman who are trustworthy, dedicated, team players and domesticated. I also disagree with the Social Role Theory and Mate Selection suggesting that most college educated women with high earning potential prefer to date and marry men whose income potential is higher than their own, ( Wiederman & Allgeier, 1992) This is not a reality for many and thus does not often happen. I believe that any women, college educated or not, would prefer a man with a higher earning potential.
In the natural realm of things, I strongly believe, regarding high-income women, that all women basically desire high –income husbands. Both sexes prefer mates who are much like themselves referencing personalities, as much as making money. A few men would still prefer to be the bread – winners in order to keep the control. I strongly agree with the assortative mating or homogamy partnerships due to the notion that people are drawn to those who are similar in age, education, social class, ethnic group membership, religion, attitudes, and interests but I am not so sure about temperament. Often times one experiences a warm, kind and gentle man, who is relationship bound to a woman so hateful that Satan would run from her.
Choosing a partner does appear to involve some king of exchange process. In choosing a mate, I must admit that it is and has always been an exchange for me. Once the attraction process begins, I immediately look to see what the individual can offer as an asset to me as a potential mate, with the thought in mind of us pooling our resources together in any attempts to reach prospective future goals. If there are no resources on his part, then why waste my time? I could have a heart and work with the person. If I were in my twenties I probably would consider it, but not at my age; Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I am a woman and as a woman, mating preferences and mating behaviors, as well as age, could be key factors in the role theory and selection process.
In conclusion, advocates of social role theory found that both men’s and women’s mate preferences changed as women gained economic power (Eagly & Wood, 1999). What do you think?
Boyd.d., & Bee, H. (2006). Adult Development: Social Role Theory and Mate Selection: (pp.90-91). Boston, Massachusetts: Ally and Bacon.
Kathryn Carrington is a freelance writer, published author of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, CEO Starr Touch Enterprises Incorporated, a profit and non-profit company that is a educationally based, Commerical, Pro-Constuction and Industrial / Environmental Cleaning Company, that assist AT_Risk Youth. She is a member of The NAACP, The Writers Guild of Maryland, The National Council of Negro Women and The International Society of Poets.
