That doesn't mean that married women on the whole make more than married men; a whopping 78 percent of husbands make as much or more than their wives. It's simply that the percentage of female breadwinners has grown dramatically. In 1970, 4 percent of husbands had wives who brought home more bacon than they did, and that figure rose to 22 percent in 2007. Scholastically, however, married women have outpaced married men: 19 percent of wives are less educated than their husbands, while 29 percent of husbands are less educated than their wives -- but 53 percent of couples are similarly educated, according to Salon.com.

So, what does that say about marriage and role reversal? Is being Independent bad? Want does an independent woman say to a successful man? What can a successful man offer a successful woman?

According to Salon.com, "Nonetheless, the piece continues with examples of smart and successful women who can't find a mate -- like a 38-year-old psychiatrist in New Jersey, a 35-year-old graduate of Columbia and Sarah Lawrence and a 50-something divorced business owner, who says that men "call you high maintenance if you look like you don’t need anyone to take care of you." (Isn't that the definition of low-maintenance?)"

The article's kicker: The fashion stylist recounts how her best male friend told her, "You are confident, have good credit, own your own business, travel around the world and are self-sufficient. What man is going to want you?"

“We’ve known for some time that men need marriage more than women from the standpoint of physical and mental well-being,” said Stephanie Coontz, a professor at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Wash., and research director for the Council on Contemporary Families, a research and advocacy group. “Now it is becoming increasingly important to their economic well-being as well.”

So, what does that say to successful women? What if you added minority women in this mix? Who is more likely to get married? Why are there so many single, successful women?

As Shakesville argues, that suggests inequality -- that the growing number of better educated, higher-earning wives are taking care of, or being taken advantage of by, their husbands. It implies

"an unequal, non-emotional, business-like relationship where one partner is little more than a bank account (or a dupe) and the other partner little more than a someone in search of that account," she says.

MY thoughts....

Look at the last sentence....

So, what did we learn from this article...Many successful women are having a hard time finding a mate. That has been one of the biggest topics of this year. I think I've seen it in almost every article this year and in the past year. Many women, especially minorities, are having a hard time finding that special someone because they feel he doesn't "match their expectations or he's not secure". What does that say about women and their need for equality? Do you feel that the road to equality will equal women without mates, gaining all the professional goals, but ultimately sacrificing the personal? Many believe that because the economy has taken a turn for the worst, many men are being laid off and women are becoming the sole bread winners in their household. Can that have an effect on a relationship? Now, according to New York Times, “Among all married couples,” the report said, “wives contribute a growing share of the household income, and a rising share of those couples include a wife who earns more than her husband.” Many women are choosing to put careers over personal satisfaction, is that wrong?

Earlier this week, I had a conversation with one of my good friends. He's smart, handsome, and well-educated. He was discussing how when his parents raised him, they did not include the chapter about independent women. In my head I was thinking, we need a chapter? But anyways, I was taken a back. I mean, I was raised by both a single mother and my grandparents. My mom taught me about being independent and she put success at the top of my goals, she didn't really touch on relationships, she wanted me to worry about making sure I reached my goals and she said boys would come later. What I realize as I'm getting older is that I wish my grandparents would of talked about partnerships and relationships a lot more, because it would of gave me a better balance with juggling the two. I mean, my grandfather taught me about being independent as well, but he really didn't talk about being a great girlfriend all that much til' I got a lot older like 21! lol So, I guess I can say I am a product of my environment, but does that mean that girls like me don't want relationships? No. It just means that you have to learn each individual and I feel like sometimes learning by experience and interactions with others is the best way to figure out how to handle those tough situations and questions. Maybe, his parents didn't teach him about girls who felt like they had it all, but that doesn't mean he's not going to encounter them and learn how to appreciate them.

I hope that people will offer their thoughts and give your own experiences! I would love to hear what you have to say!

Here is a quote that I know is going to cause some discussion....

One of the guys that commented on the Salon.com blog post:

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 04:24 PM
My own issues...

Being an underemployed man married to a fine woman who works in a lucrative industry, I'd just like to point out that, rather than resent her success, I'm incredibly grateful. The economy has not been kind to me and I count my blessings every single day that my wife is smart, ambitious and hard-working enough to keep us going. I'm beyond happy to take on the majority of housework and errands-my lame, get-me-off-the-couch job has shorter hours than hers so it's only fair. I'm confident enough with my masculinity to feel unthreatened by this. I do long for the day when my career is back on track and my income is close to hers, but not for pride. Because when we're both making good money, we'll be doing QUITE well for ourselves.
—Jaycg9 Read Jaycg9's other letters

To read more about the article on Salon.com, click here

To read more about the article on New York Times, click here.