Earlier quoted context omitted.
i don’t think that increased access to “top tier” men is the root cause of this feeling. it seems to me like choices for women around partners were largely made for them for most of history. this led to men from wealth and power to define the “good” traits. the traits we defined were largely based on status. now that access to people with these traits is no longer based on who a woman’s guardian knows, but what’s ava…
You're kind of right. A lot of marriages were historically done for reasons other than love. Most women aren't sexually attracted to their husbands but they still needed a provider. Now that women are economic equals to men they have no reason to ever settle for guys they don't like, which is most guys. If you've ever seen a woman use a dating app you know that they're all flooded with dozens of messages from hot guy…
take weight for instance:
in late feudal/early industrial society a heavy set person was seen as very attractive. access to the resources to become fat was hard, so a fat person was rich and the weight conveyed power.
in the same feudal/industrial time pale skin was also seen as very attractive, because it meant the person didn't have to labor outside for a living.
now thin tan people are all the rage, but you're saying we don't decide on what is attractive as a society?