Career Women Face Less Money, Less Marriage

Sept. 7, 2006 — -- Two weeks ago, when Forbes published its now infamous article attempting to answer what qualities a man should look for in a wife, it wasn't looks, education or compatibility. Instead, the story advised men to avoid marrying women with careers -- advice that ignited a firestorm of objection across the Internet.

Just hours after the Forbes article "Don't Marry Career Women" was posted online on Aug. 23, it was removed from the Web site and quickly repackaged -- this time in the opinions section, with a counterpoint.

Six days later, the U.S. Census Bureau revealed a static wage gap. Women working full-time and year-round continued to make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, a number that remains virtually unchanged from 2004.

The intersection of the two events might be more than coincidence. With increasing reports in the last few years of women shying away from careers in favor of family -- or failing to seek promotions in the workplace -- is there a war on women who work?

"Whatever you do, don't marry a career woman," wrote Michael Noer, author of the controversial article and an editor at Forbes. As evidence, Noer cited a number of scientific studies that show a higher likelihood of divorce in marriages in which women work.

A higher statistical probability of women having extramarital affairs, a decline in women's hours spent on housework, and a greater prevalence of spousal sickness were all listed as contributors to a spiked divorce rate in such marriages.

Noer's article sparked an online outcry within moments of publication. Dozens of bloggers across the country wrote about the article. Some attacked Noer directly, calling him "completely sexist," and even more expressed incredulity at the financial publication's gender gaffe. Many called for a boycott of the magazine.