We were so THRILLED and RELIEVED to read Stephanie Coontz’s Op-Ed in The Times. Finally, in a national discourse about love and marriage that has largely centered around complaining about the quality of available men and ordering us young women to settle already and MARRY HIM – FINALLY, there is a voice telling us that we are better off in relationships the more powerful we are.

The results are in, and it looks like we can finally stop worrying that our accomplishments and educations are hurting our chances of “getting a good man” (Coontz cites sociologist Christine B. Whelan‘s 2008 reporting that men now want – in this order – mutual attraction, dependable character, emotional stability, intelligence and education). And it turns out that not only will our marriages be better the more educated and successful we may find ourselves, but so will our sex lives. Score!

Of course, as even Coontz points out, there will always be guys who might be intimidated by successful women. But in our humble opinion, Coontz has the best comeback to this that we’ve ever heard. Take it away, Coontz:

“Certainly, some guys are still threatened by a woman’s achievements. But scaring these types off might be a good thing…Few women really want to marry a man whose penis rises and falls in tandem with the size of his paycheck or the prestige of his diploma.”

AMEN.

More on WTF?!

5 Tips for Being Happily Single on Valentine’s Day by Jess (on Yahoo! Shine)

An Ode to Manly Men (and Independent Women) by Jess

Should We Settle? Ha! Yeah Right by Jess

What’s NOT to Love About Guys These Days? by Becky

Books by Stephanie Coontz:

{marriage certificate picture from cedarjunction}