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Culture War Roundup for the week of August 7, 2023

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the investment to get higher tier men is hugely warranted

Who are going to want either women their own age (in their 30s) who have a lot of assets to offer - own business, wealthy family background, connections and networking, of their own social circle - or the hot young 22 year old who doesn't need plastic surgery.

Well-off but not rich average mid-30s woman is not going to hook that kind of high status, high attractiveness guy for marriage even with a boatload of plastic surgery.

if you're a 55 year old guy and divorced and looking for a new relationship

Will probably have a baby with the new squeeze, that's generally how it shakes out if they've left/been divorced from a wife and they already have kids. It's easier for a guy in that situation, since generally the ex-wife has custody. Single mothers, I agree, will be much less desirable; if the new woman wants kids, it's easier for him to knock her up than to deal with her kid(s) from a previous marriage/relationship. The whole thing around step-parents and prioritising your own biological offspring over those of a stranger.

There's always a question of what we mean when we say 'high status' or 'successful' or 'attractive'. Can a moderately successful 34 year old woman improve herself to the point where she can attract someone of broadly similar looks and status? Yeah, probably. In any case, in affluent PMC circles, cases of 40 year old guys - even wealthy and hot ones - marrying gorgeous 22 year old women are relatively uncommon. They occur, but they are not the norm.

Can a moderately successful 34 year old woman improve herself to the point where she can attract someone of broadly similar looks and status?

Shooting fish in a barrel in Silicon Valley. Plenty of fit multimillionaire virgins out there. Especially if she's not morbidly obese or a danger to herself or others.