The way it ALL ENDS: the five endgames that all women face

Summary

Dr. Orion Taraban discusses the current state of the sexual marketplace, focusing on the challenges women face as they age and navigate relationships. He examines factors such as female hypergamy, the decline in marriage and relationships, and the shifting dynamics between men and women. Taraban outlines five possible outcomes for women based on their decisions and the competitive dating market, exploring scenarios ranging from securing a high-value man to remaining unpartnered. He highlights how age, success, and expectations impact relationship outcomes, stressing the importance of understanding these shifts for better decision-making.

Takeaways

• 😀 Fewer people are getting married, entering relationships, or hooking up than ever before, largely due to societal changes and individual behaviors.
• 😀 Women's increasing success, especially in education and earnings, is creating a gap in the dating marketplace, as young women often outperform men in these areas.
• 😀 Female hypergamy, the tendency to seek higher-status partners, is driving a shrinking pool of eligible men as men in the top 10% of the sexual marketplace are highly sought after.
• 😀 Despite modern gender equality, women are still generally waiting for men to make the first move in dating and commitment, maintaining traditional courtship roles.
• 😀 As women age, particularly after 30, their sexual marketplace value decreases, making it more expensive for them to secure high-value partners.
• 😀 The five potential relationship outcomes for women, based on age, attractiveness, and success, are: 1) securing a high-value man by maintaining high standards, 2) lowering standards to secure a high-value man, 3) settling for a lower-value man, 4) further lowering standards and settling for a low-value man, or 5) remaining unpartnered and childless.
• 😀 The most likely outcomes for most women are scenarios where they settle for a lower-value partner or remain unpartnered as competition in the sexual marketplace increases.
• 😀 Women's decision to maintain high standards can sometimes result in them being priced out of the dating market, especially if they are unwilling to adapt to changing conditions.
• 😀 Men with higher status and options are less likely to commit to women, making it difficult for women to secure long-term commitments from these men, leading to relationship dissatisfaction for many.
• 😀 Many women, especially high-earning and successful ones, may unintentionally end up childless due to prioritizing career and success over relationships, even though they may want children later in life.

Q & A

What is the main theme of Dr. Orion Taraban's talk?

The main theme revolves around the shifting dynamics of the sexual marketplace, particularly regarding female hypergamy, changing relationship trends, and the implications of women's increasing success on their relationship outcomes.

What is female hypergamy and how does it impact relationship formation?

Female hypergamy refers to the tendency of women to seek partners of higher social status. This trend, combined with women's increasing success relative to men, creates a smaller pool of eligible partners, which impacts relationship and marriage formation.

How does women’s success, particularly in education and earnings, affect their relationship prospects?

As women, especially those under 30, outperform men in education and earnings, their high standards for potential partners make it harder for them to find suitable matches. This dynamic, coupled with hypergamy, leads to fewer relationships and marriages.

What does Dr. Taraban mean by 'the gatekeepers of sex' and 'the gatekeepers of commitment'?

Dr. Taraban suggests that women are considered the 'gatekeepers of sex,' meaning they control who gets sexual access, while men are seen as the 'gatekeepers of commitment,' deciding whether to offer a relationship or long-term commitment.

What happens to the sexual marketplace value of women as they age?

As women age, their sexual marketplace value generally decreases, making it harder for them to secure high-value partners. This shift in value makes the same offer of commitment or partnership more expensive as they grow older.

Why does Dr. Taraban suggest that women may find themselves 'priced out of the market'?

Women may be 'priced out of the market' because their high standards, fueled by hypergamy, can limit their dating options as they age. If they don't adapt to the changing conditions, they may struggle to find suitable partners.

What are the five possible endgames for women discussed in the talk?

The five endgames are: A) Women keep their price tag high and secure a high-value partner, B) Women lower their price tag and secure a high-value partner, C) Women keep their price tag high but settle for a lower-value partner, D) Women lower their price tag and settle for a lower-value partner, and E) Women remain unpartnered and childless.

Which of the five endgames does Dr. Taraban deem the most unlikely, and why?

Dr. Taraban deems Scenario A (women keeping their price tag high and securing a high-value partner) the most unlikely. He explains that high-value men, with many options, are not willing to commit to women who set a high price for commitment.

What is the role of intersexual competition in the sexual marketplace?

Intersexual competition refers to the rivalry among women to secure high-value men. As women compete for the same top-tier partners, the chances of any one woman securing such a partner decrease, particularly as women age and their sexual marketplace value decreases.

How does Dr. Taraban explain the growing trend of women remaining unpartnered and childless?

Dr. Taraban highlights that about one in four women will end up unpartnered and childless, a trend that is rising. Many women today are thriving in careers, traveling, and enjoying personal freedom. However, as they age, their desire for commitment and children may grow, leading to unintentional childlessness.

What does Dr. Taraban mean by 'lowering their price tags' in the context of relationships?

'Lowering their price tags' means that women may adjust their expectations and settle for a partner who may not meet their original, high standards in order to secure a relationship or commitment.