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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To say: Women, stop marrying down.

191 replies

MarriedUpMindset · 21/11/2025 15:58

Too many women are marrying men with less ambition, less emotional intelligence, less income or less stability, and calling it “love” or “potential.” Then they carry the emotional labour, the life admin, the income gap, the household mental load and quietly burn out while trying to stay “grateful.”

I’m not saying you need a millionaire. I’m saying stop being the upgrade. Stop settling for men who see your strength and success as something to lean on, not rise to.

You don’t need to mother him, teach him how to communicate or drag him toward adulthood. If he’s not already moving through life with direction, respect and maturity, why are you tying yourself to that?

AIBU to think a lot of women’s relationship problems would disappear overnight if they just stopped marrying down?

OP posts:
Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:40

Sharptonguedwoman · 21/11/2025 16:01

You may well be right but-just to say shiningly clever woman colleague married a man in a trade. Her parents said it wouldn't last. Married pair complement each other's interests and skills and have been together and mutually supportive for over 40 years.

But that's not necessarily marrying down. It might be to class snobs, but if he is intelligent and funny and shares the load and loves her, she's married her match. He has excellent practical skills, she has excellent intellectual ones - that is an even balance. A friend of mine did this. Still together after decades.

thenightsky · 21/11/2025 16:41

BunnyLake · 21/11/2025 16:28

Well that would be lovely if true, but it takes both partners to know what love actually means.

This is where I think Lady Diana went wrong and Charles was her 'marrying down' moment, despite him being the future king.

Its not just about money.

Sharptonguedwoman · 21/11/2025 16:43

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:40

But that's not necessarily marrying down. It might be to class snobs, but if he is intelligent and funny and shares the load and loves her, she's married her match. He has excellent practical skills, she has excellent intellectual ones - that is an even balance. A friend of mine did this. Still together after decades.

Absolutely. I was just pointing out that her parents thought she was marrying down but in fact they are a well matched couple. No snobbery from me.

Elsvieta · 21/11/2025 16:45

In theory, yes. In practice, most women want children (more than they ever want any man), so most women settle.

BauhausOfEliott · 21/11/2025 16:45

Fimofriend · 21/11/2025 16:06

OP wasn't talking about money. She talks about character.

She mentions income. Also, when she says 'ambition', I strongly doubt she's talking about an ambition to, eg, write a novel, be a session guitarist or join a circus. She's very clearly talking about ambition that leads to financial success and stability.

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:46

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 21/11/2025 16:03

We'll call me an old romantic but I happen to believe in a little thing called love. And it can conquer all.

It shouldn't have to! Why put yourself in a position where you put up with shit because you luuurrrvvve him. Fall in love with an emotionally mature, fair minded man with a good work ethic.

Call me an old pragmatist but I was laughed at by some women when I said I found DH's Good Boy vibe far sexier and rarer than the Bad Boy vibes they got turned on by. I still find DH's dependability a real turn on.

MsCactus · 21/11/2025 16:47

Elsvieta · 21/11/2025 16:45

In theory, yes. In practice, most women want children (more than they ever want any man), so most women settle.

I think this is true.

Also there are a LOT more women who achieve high grades and go to top universities. So if you're in that cohort, with a well paying job too, you're going to have very few men at "your equal" to choose from.

Zebedee999 · 21/11/2025 16:47

Sharptonguedwoman · 21/11/2025 16:01

You may well be right but-just to say shiningly clever woman colleague married a man in a trade. Her parents said it wouldn't last. Married pair complement each other's interests and skills and have been together and mutually supportive for over 40 years.

Learning a trade and being good at it are not something to look down on. Some of the richest people I know have done trades and had their own businesses as a result.

mumofoneAloneandwell · 21/11/2025 16:47
Jennifer Lopez Reaction GIF

I agree

Men are by and large, shite, imo 😒😒

If you must share your home with one of them, it might as well be a mansion

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:48

MsCactus · 21/11/2025 16:47

I think this is true.

Also there are a LOT more women who achieve high grades and go to top universities. So if you're in that cohort, with a well paying job too, you're going to have very few men at "your equal" to choose from.

Are there? I really didn't know this. When I was at uni (decades ago) the split was 70% men 30% women at my college. And that was pretty standard back then.

Tigerbalmshark · 21/11/2025 16:49

GiantTeddyIsTired · 21/11/2025 16:34

Yes, I'm sure there are ambitious men who support their partners.

It's not been my experience generally - either personally, or among my female friends, or amongst my male colleagues (more than one of whom has gleefully said that they take late meetings because then they'll get home too late to do bedtime for instance)

Perhaps it's the circles I move in.

I have plenty of ambition, but I'm also able to balance others needs (eg. my children), and it's not endless. I have a goal (which I am very close to meeting) and then I will switch tracks to doing what I want, rather than what I need. My ex doesn't have that because he hasn't done any planning (that was my responsibility). My other exes similarly just blew along without a final plan.

If I have a partner again, it will be someone independent, who knows what they want (and ideally has basically achieved it). I'm not being someone's general dogsbody again.

I’m a doctor so there just has never been any question of my career giving way to DH’s - it just isn’t flexible enough. It isn’t a question of who is the most ambitious out of us, DH has to compromise if he wants to be married to me (I also compromise where I can, but some things I have no leeway on myself). That was the case when he out-earned me just as much as it is now I out-earn him (actually I have a lot more flexibility as a consultant than I did as a junior doctor).

One of DH’s twattier friends once suggested I change careers and get a “little admin job” because “it wasn’t fair on DH that I worked all hours”. This was before kids and I think possibly even before we were married, so absolutely ludicrous suggestion. I just would never have even entertained marrying somebody who thought like that.

Sharptonguedwoman · 21/11/2025 16:49

Zebedee999 · 21/11/2025 16:47

Learning a trade and being good at it are not something to look down on. Some of the richest people I know have done trades and had their own businesses as a result.

Absolutely agree but the opinions were those of my colleague’s parents not me and from 40+ years ago.

Achewyhamster · 21/11/2025 16:50

My mother 'married down'

My father is the youngest (by 15 years) of 4 siblings

My grandmother died when he was barely out of his teens and my grandad took over

He did nothing for himself-no washing,cooking,cleaning-nothing

He even had his cornflakes poured for him in the morning

She still married him and had myself and my siblings (and my brothers take after him,parroting that 'women are programmed to work the washing machine,men are not!' 'Children are her problem' 'train your women lads!' and 'women should know their place on the kitchen!')

The cycle has continued as their wives are now breaking under the mental load while they do their 'big jobs' (the women all work too)

I cannot stress enough that my father worked bloody hard at his job but my mother has spent her adult life drowning under the load

He doesn't even know where his socks are kept,paid a bill or has to be told to have a shower,with her holding the shampoo/soap to make sure he does it properly

When I moved I with dp,I made it crystal clear I wasn't doing everything

He lives here so half the mental load is his and he saw the same with his father and how his poor mum tried so hard to do everything and almost broke under the strain (she had dp,his disabled sister to look after,run the house and deal with her husband,who was either at work or the pub)

He's a fully grown man and he either stepped up or fucked off

In the 10 years we've been together,he didnt do the washing up once (id had a shit day at work and cried over it) and he has rang me twice while at the supermarket to double check he was getting what id asked for rather than guessing and getting it wrong (he does the food shop by himself every fortnight)

No way am I living with a man baby and I refuse to train anyone

Uptightmumma · 21/11/2025 16:50

Girl I used to work with. Ambitious, wanted to work hard and then take a few years out to travel the world. Don’t want kids. Loved learning new skills, cooking new foods, languages etc

her boyfriend - loved his simple life, loved his easy 9-5 job, earned enough to live the life he wanted, didn’t want to do anything anything except the ordinary which was fine for him

she was much younger than me asked for advice one day, told her to split up with, their lives weren’t aligned

Baconbuttymad · 21/11/2025 16:53

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:46

It shouldn't have to! Why put yourself in a position where you put up with shit because you luuurrrvvve him. Fall in love with an emotionally mature, fair minded man with a good work ethic.

Call me an old pragmatist but I was laughed at by some women when I said I found DH's Good Boy vibe far sexier and rarer than the Bad Boy vibes they got turned on by. I still find DH's dependability a real turn on.

Edited

THIS TOTALLY!

taxguru · 21/11/2025 16:54

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:48

Are there? I really didn't know this. When I was at uni (decades ago) the split was 70% men 30% women at my college. And that was pretty standard back then.

Latest figures show 57% of current Uni student numbers are female.

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:54

Achewyhamster · 21/11/2025 16:50

My mother 'married down'

My father is the youngest (by 15 years) of 4 siblings

My grandmother died when he was barely out of his teens and my grandad took over

He did nothing for himself-no washing,cooking,cleaning-nothing

He even had his cornflakes poured for him in the morning

She still married him and had myself and my siblings (and my brothers take after him,parroting that 'women are programmed to work the washing machine,men are not!' 'Children are her problem' 'train your women lads!' and 'women should know their place on the kitchen!')

The cycle has continued as their wives are now breaking under the mental load while they do their 'big jobs' (the women all work too)

I cannot stress enough that my father worked bloody hard at his job but my mother has spent her adult life drowning under the load

He doesn't even know where his socks are kept,paid a bill or has to be told to have a shower,with her holding the shampoo/soap to make sure he does it properly

When I moved I with dp,I made it crystal clear I wasn't doing everything

He lives here so half the mental load is his and he saw the same with his father and how his poor mum tried so hard to do everything and almost broke under the strain (she had dp,his disabled sister to look after,run the house and deal with her husband,who was either at work or the pub)

He's a fully grown man and he either stepped up or fucked off

In the 10 years we've been together,he didnt do the washing up once (id had a shit day at work and cried over it) and he has rang me twice while at the supermarket to double check he was getting what id asked for rather than guessing and getting it wrong (he does the food shop by himself every fortnight)

No way am I living with a man baby and I refuse to train anyone

This is the only attitude worth having. Don't put up with shit. Ever. If you find yourself mistakenly putting up with shit - which I have on occasion from DH and very occasionally from DS1 - correct your own behaviour immediately and never ever put up with shit again. Make it clear you won't. And stay powerful. No ranting or tears. Just strength and absolute conviction.

NoMorePleaseNow · 21/11/2025 16:55

My mother told me i need to train a man. I have a child i don't want another. 1st husband was a loser. 2nd is world's apart.

verybighouseinthecountry · 21/11/2025 16:56

I saw a very similar post from a man on another forum, saying that most women just go after a man's money and to either partner up with a woman who will either contribute equally or will stay at home and cook and clean. Perhaps we should all have 'bands' such as A1,B2, C3 etc so we can avoid 'marrying down'?

MsCactus · 21/11/2025 16:56

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:48

Are there? I really didn't know this. When I was at uni (decades ago) the split was 70% men 30% women at my college. And that was pretty standard back then.

Yes - I can't remember the exact stats but it's approx 2/3 women at top unis and 1/3 men. Men still dominate the top paying professions though!

taxguru · 21/11/2025 16:57

@Achewyhamster

He's a fully grown man and he either stepped up or fucked off

That was my attitude too! Right from the earliest days of our relationship starting. It's about setting general boundaries and expectations and respect. Not about the tiny detail. Get the "headlines" right and the little things fall into place naturally.

Achewyhamster · 21/11/2025 16:58

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:54

This is the only attitude worth having. Don't put up with shit. Ever. If you find yourself mistakenly putting up with shit - which I have on occasion from DH and very occasionally from DS1 - correct your own behaviour immediately and never ever put up with shit again. Make it clear you won't. And stay powerful. No ranting or tears. Just strength and absolute conviction.

I had an uphill battle with the dc growing up

On one hand they had me saying 'put-your-clothes-in-the-basket-as-im-not-doing-it-and-they-wont-get-washed-otherwise' and my father (and brothers) saying to my ds's 'dont bother son,she'll crack before you do!'

I never did and all pick up after themselves as adults

It's manipulative and awful behaviour

BarbarasRhabarberba · 21/11/2025 16:58

Platypusdiver · 21/11/2025 16:29

Yes. Aren't women totally their own worst enemy? Women should know that it's unacceptable to make mistakes or have life pan out in a way that their younger self could not forsee. Everyone knows the tiny signs to watch out for and ruthlessly act on. Honestly, of course they only have themselves to blame for someone else's behaviour. Then they have the audacity to get upset and seek advice. They should just shut up and accept their silly womaness. (Don't get me started on the women with low self esteem. Why don't they just grow some? I've got it. It's not hard to have self esteem.)

Luckily, I am not that sort of woman. I am the superior type who makes corrects decisions everytime.

You joke but there’s truth in it. I had some horrendous relationships when younger and while I obviously wasn’t responsible for other people’s poor behaviour, there is only one person responsible for not dumping these wasters far sooner than I did: me. Similarly when I realised I had a pattern of unhealthy, unhappy failed relationships, I looked at the one common denominator (me) and did therapy to understand the part I played in it repeatedly happening. Women do have to take responsibility for self-growth and our choices. It doesn’t get anyone anywhere to consider themselves a total victim of circumstance.

taxguru · 21/11/2025 16:58

Jugendstiel · 21/11/2025 16:54

This is the only attitude worth having. Don't put up with shit. Ever. If you find yourself mistakenly putting up with shit - which I have on occasion from DH and very occasionally from DS1 - correct your own behaviour immediately and never ever put up with shit again. Make it clear you won't. And stay powerful. No ranting or tears. Just strength and absolute conviction.

Nail on the head.

Praying4Peace · 21/11/2025 16:58

Kuretake · 21/11/2025 16:03

But then men need to marry down!

Maybe we could just all treat each other like human beings and not rank each other so crassly?

This 100pc
Some women see men as a meal ticket