To ask who would date a man without a college degree and/or earning less?

[CleopatraSelene]

It's such a big talking point with sexist men now & also in general think pieces in media. So I thought I'd do an AIBU poll out of curiosity.
I personally would date someone who earns less & I would date someone without a degree. I would want someone smart but that isn't synonymous, esp when you look at idiots like Owen Jones & Boris who went to good unis.

However, I date women so not directly comparable

. Also housing is not an issue for me, and I know I am very lucky in this as right now housing costs are ofc out of control & the government fails to do anything...

I suspect housing & wish to be SAHM are big factors, and reasonably so.

Rather than worrying that men won’t be able to attract women without degrees, they should be starting a moral panic about men without the basic ability to be a decent partner, as witnessed by hundreds of threads on here!

Yes I think my post must have seemed like I was saying this was bad! I don't!

Ahh okay

I like his economic politics, havent followed him in years to know anything else he says

My DH has a degree but when I met him earned half what I did and rented a room in a house while I owned my own property

25 years later he earns 3 x what I do and we've paid off our mortgage

make of that what you will

Tbh men often have lower standards. Sadly I think a lot of men (many are better ofc) just care about a woman being sexually attractive and amenable to what they want.

Yes, I also feel his attitude to Hamas is naive. Tbf I do like his book Chavs though.

My boyfriend has a couple of degrees and a masters and a job. I have shit GCSEs and unable to work.
We share interests and get along though. That is what counts.

Incidentally, I wonder if gay men prefer degree educated partners if they have a degree? I know many are particular about looks, earnings so probably yes, but don't know for sure.

I’d happily date someone who earned less and didn’t have the same type of education. However, wherever he was at, I’d like him to have dreams or hopes for his future. That might mean moving to the next step in his job or developing a side business etc. The idea of ‘bettering yourself’ (whatever that looks like) is quite attractive to me.

For me it’s not money but intelligence and someone who likes thinking about things. Most intelligent men have degrees but some may choose a different route. I wouldn’t date someone happy to be on the dole and rely on other people. Self sufficiency and independence are important, and not talking non stop.

YABU to call it a college degree. It's a university degree if you live in the UK. If you're going to complain about lack of intelligence ...

My husband has no real formal qualifications but worked hard through his apprenticeship and beyond. He ended up earning over 50K per annum approximately in his field for years until his retirement. It is his kindness, his work ethic and how he tests me that matters. Not his qualifications and his earnings.

I'm not complaining! I think it's good if different kinds of people marry. And I used college bc I've been reading US articles on this, I must stop myself being Americanised 🤣

I think it's a bigger worry there esp as manual labour jobs are also declining & many young men are at sea

My second and current DH left school at 15 with CSEs
he is without question the most interesting, inquisitive, well read, intelligent man I’ve ever met
I have a first in law

It does to some extent. There are many people who would not be capable of getting a degree. However, not having a degree does not necessarily mean you are not smart.

Definitely depends on the person. I had a very rose tinted love conquers all view and married someone earning less than me. He was totally unable to support me and the kids, especially when I went on Mat Leave. Ended up leaving our home when he lost his low paid job and I Iost loads in savings.

I hate to say this but money matters.

My husband works in the same area as his degree but could easily be doing his job without jumping the hoops to gain an expensive certificate.
Nothing about his degree made him a good conversationalist, compassionate and caring or a good father.

Are you aware that someone can be exceptionally bright but not come from the background where a university education could be considered due to economic needs?
valuing education is a luxury

How did he get the job? What do you both do?

I married mine , no kids but approaching 13 year anniversary

I wouldn't think it the priority of a mathematics or IT degree to instill critical thinking.
I don't recall anything other than learning to understand computer logic, databases and one of the softer modules, design accessible user interfaces.

I'm curious. What sort of degree do you think is more likely to make someone a good partner in terms of being good company as much as earning ability?

You definitely need to spend time with people from different backgrounds to understand that not everyone has the privilege of a good education !

Same, my partner went to Oxbridge but his career choice (arts) means he earns little more than minimum wage. I’m a uni dropout and earn 6 figures, I also own the flat. A degree isn’t a guarantee of high earnings or a measure of intelligence. I’m curious and interested in the world and enjoy a good philosophical debate despite not having a certificate saying I’m capable of such things.

Think it totally depends. My husband is an IT engineer, left school at 16 - no a levels and no college degree. Now sometimes I do think given how smart he is and how well he’s done without the education, that he’d have done even better with one but we’ll never know. He’s a beautiful person, so down to earth, has a good income and we’re really happy.

Every circumstance is different!