Marriage and children are also higher status among men than women. Men want to be married more than women do, so it’s not surprising that boys want to be married more than girls.

The simple status explanation, which is a long-term trend, is this: men being married with children is a reflection of their status and financial success. Women being married with children is not a reflection of anything, except preference. Career and financial success is the replacement for family in the status hierarchy for women, not linked to it at all. From the Economist this week:

Both from Vogue, which has its pulse on what is high-status for women. At best, relationships and marriage are neutral for the vast majority of women.