What makes an ideal man? A manager or doctor and a healthy bank account
By <FONT color=#003580>Jaya Narain
Last updated at 9:00 AM on 30th May 2011
Manager: Women surveyed were attracted to wealth and status
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>A single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife, Jane Austen wrote in 1813.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>But though almost 200 years have passed since the publication of Pride and Prejudice, it appears little has changed.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>A study has found that women in search of a partner are still attracted by wealth and status.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>Number one on the list of most desirable professions for a future mate is the high-earning executive or senior manager.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>Second in the ranking is the doctor, vet or dentist and in third place is the lawyer or solicitor, followed by teachers and the self-employed.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>Firemen – who have long had a reputation as being hot stuff – were ranked only 33rd out of 79 professions.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>The study, which was drawn from information provided by female users of match.com, the UK’s biggest online dating firm, found the least desirable professions were librarians, florists and lorry drivers.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>Kate Taylor, of match.com, said: ‘Success is sexy, and a man who has reached the level of manager will be seen as having responsibility, ambition and maturity.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>‘These are all attractive qualities to females who prefer an “alpha” partner – one who is decisive and driven.’
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>She added that doctors were a popular choice because they combined intelligence and caring with a decent wage packet.
Attraction: Second in the ranking is the doctor, vet or dentist who combine intelligence and caring with a decent wage packet
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>‘An executive is equally attractive. It denotes someone who works in a skilled, office job with regular hours, which would appeal to women who prefer a nine to five lifestyle, leaving evenings and weekends free to spend as a couple or, eventually, a family.’
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>‘His medical knowledge also suggests that he could look after his family and children very well,‘ she said.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>‘Even if they’re not consciously looking to start a family, women are still drawn to qualities that would have been useful and attractive to their ancestors.’
Insight: Jane Austen wrote that a single man with a good fortune must be in want of wife
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>Miss Taylor said lawyers ranked third in the study for obvious reasons.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>She said: ‘Large salaries are an obvious attraction here. But more than that, men in the legal profession are often seen as very intelligent and quick-witted.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>‘Law also suggests fairness and stability, which are good leadership traits. These appeal to women who are emotional and indecisive, but similarly Alpha-women who are looking for an equal will be drawn to these men.’
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>The study, which was drawn from information provided by women using the website, found that teachers - who ranked 4th - were attractive because they suggested men who are able to combine caring and family-orientated qualities with leadership.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>Last in the top five was the self-employed worker who were popular because it suggests men who are self-motivated and ambitious.
<FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 1.2em" size=2>Miss Taylor said: ‘Most entrepreneurs would call themselves self-employed. Women who worry about money might not find a self-employed partner as appealing as someone with a regular, fixed income, but females who also work for themselves might appreciate the potential for lots of time spent together.’
