It is often said that women control access to sex but men control access to relationships.
Not quite
I probably should not have phrased it in terms of buying and selling. That could be misinterpreted and wasn’t really what I meant.
My point was that it has been frequently noted in the current dating scene that many young women are all chasing the top 10% or even top 5% of men. He has to be tall, fit, handsome, rich, good-natured, etc., etc. etc. Young women seem to think that they deserve the best of the best. And if you ask them “What do you bring to the table?” they just get insulted. How can you dare ask such thing?? A man would be lucky to grab such a catch!!
But the reality is that men (of all ages) tend to chase women who are in their 20s. Women who are over 30 are much less popular with men. Women behave like they get the pick of the litter, but the reality is that men get to do the choosing. (Many men do not realize this, and they simp for women, but this is a mistake.)
Young men should be taught that they have more control of the relationship. The man has lasting value in all of the superficial areas (looks, money, etc.) The woman’s value in superficial areas does not last (beauty fades).
Men should focus on strong character and career success so that they can lead society. Women should focus on traditional values like cooking and caring for a family so that she can be a valuable partner to a man for decades — for a whole lifetime. This is the path to happiness for both.
But modern society teaches the opposite.