3 ms·
Disclaimer: Armchair backseat keyboard-jockey evolutionary biologist here. I wonder if a big part of this difference is that for men, making more money directl
by BadassFractal 8y ago
Disclaimer: Armchair backseat keyboard-jockey evolutionary biologist here.
I wonder if a big part of this difference is that for men, making more money directly translates to better mating opportunities, which is a primary driver for humans. Thus climbing the male hierarchy is something many men will do at all costs, because they're programmed to associate that with much greater power and reproductive success (the, maybe unproven, theory that the top x% males get exponentially more mating opportunities than the rest). So for males, working themselves to the bone beyond a lifestyle that's "comfortable enough" still has significant evolutionary ROI (notice how many powerful and wealthy men also happen to be huge playboys, regardless of how clean and wholesome their media image often begins as), while the returns diminish noticeably for women.
Whereas for women, once a baseline of comfort is reached, let's say "I can afford live at a decent place, I can do my hobbies, travel occasionally, I can generally take care of myself" then the additional income doesn't make that much of a difference, at least not until you have a family and suddenly you have to make enough to afford the extra medical, babysitters, daycare, good schools, tutors, college etc.