This problem seems statistically unsolvable unless people make vast behavioral changes. The education gap will not be closed, it might even grow further apart.

This problem seems statistically unsolvable unless people make vast behavioral changes. The education gap will not be closed, it might even grow further apart. A significant amount of men will continue to work in blue collar jobs and thus will never meet the standards of being highly educated and/or wealthy. There's exceptions, some are making a killing, but on average not really. To make matters worse, there's a growing political gap between blue collar men and white collar women. Another portion of "lost" men are described in the article as the unemployed gamers. A portion of them might be incels. The main thing to understand about this group is that even if they do better themselves, it's still not going to be a match. Because quite likely they're socially awkward and physically unattractive, struggle to socialize and make friends. Bottom line, the popular phrase "men should step up" isn't going to work out. You're waiting for something that simply isn't going to happen. You can make of that situation what you want: opt-out and don't compromise on your standards, or deal with the cards given. My advise: look for character in a person. The obsession with status, education and wealth is inhumane, superficial and greatly self-limiting. Character lasts. If a person is structurally kind, responsible, reliable and has a steady job, who gives a shit about anything else? Combined with your own "educated" income, it would be plenty to run a family. Why price yourself out of the market with steep financial demands? For additional luxury? A bigger house? One you never attend as you're always at work? Get real.