10 Things Men Wants in A Woman

№1: Mutual Attraction and Love

Men want to marry a woman they love and are attracted to. While this may seem like a given, the “love marriage” is a modern development. Men started ranking this trait at №1 just a couple of decades ago, in the mid-1980s. Earlier in the 20th century, dependability, emotional maturity and a pleasing disposition ranked higher than love. Now, both men and women are marrying for love first and foremost, and marriages have become unions of passion, friendship, support and mutual attraction.

№2: Dependable Character

Throughout the 20th century a woman’s dependable character has been a top priority for men, who ranked it at №1 as far back as 1939. Like women, men want a life partner who will be trustworthy, faithful and reliable. They want a wife who will stand by their side and, considering divorce rates, it’s no surprise that dependability would continue to be attractive.

№3: Emotional Stability and Maturity

Both men and women consistently cite emotional stability and maturity as one of the most attractive traits in a potential spouse. While men often fall victim to the stereotype of prioritizing physical attraction, when it comes to a potential wife, they want a woman who is grounded and secure in herself. Women also place maturity at №3 on their lists of good-husband material.

№4: Education and Intelligence

A woman’s education and intelligence are more attractive to men than ever before. This characteristic has been steadily climbing the ranks of men’s desires for decades, up from №11 in 1939. Now that women are receiving 60% of college degrees and are half of the workforce, men are looking for women who are both intelligent and educated — or in other words, more accomplished and interesting than ever.

No 5: Pleasing Disposition

Men place a potential wife’s pleasing disposition at №5 and have included it in their top-five traits since the 1930s. On the other hand, women in recent years are less likely to prioritize a man’s pleasing disposition. Until recently, women consistently ranked it at №4, but it currently appears as No5

№6: Sociability

Both men and women rank sociability at №6 on their lists of mate preferences. And for both sexes, it has been steadily moving up the list from around №12 in 1939. Because today’s married couples are more likely to be friends and have mutual circles of friends, it makes sense that this has become a more attractive characteristic.

№7: Good Health

Men look for good health in a potential wife, but it is slightly less important to them today than it was in the past. In the 1930s and again in the 1970s, they ranked a woman’s health at №5. They are smart to rank it fairly high on their marriage-material list. Both sexes are living well into their 70s, and often older, making good health a predictor of a long-lasting marriage.

№8: Good Looks

Women’s looks have become increasingly important to men over the years. The trait has jumped up seven spots, from №15 in 1956. (Looks did not make the top 10 list of what women want in a husband, but it has become more important to them over time too — jumping from №18 to №12). Perhaps because modern marriages are more likely based on love and attraction rather than practicalities (like wealth or status), physical attractiveness is more desirable.

№9: Desire for Home and Children

A woman’s desire for home and children has become less attractive to men over time. In 1939, men ranked it at №6. As women have increasingly achieved similar levels of education and career status, men may have begun to perceive them as more equal partners. How to divide the labor of home and work isn’t as obvious as it was to their grandparents’ generation.

№10: Ambition and Industriousness

Despite the pervasive stereotype that men are intimidated by ambitious women, men rank this trait ahead of others like refinement, being a good cook and having similar religious backgrounds. While it’s not high on their list (№10 out of 18), it is clear that men find a woman’s drive, determination and energy attractive qualities in a life partner.