I don't feel that we "men' are playing the field any more than women are. When women cannot find a mate that is educated enough, or working in a postion that can bring more wealth, women are no different than men.

I have the same problems in finding a mate, too boring, or too stupid; however, i'm stereotyped as a player and not the women... Culture may be the one to blame, not our sex

Over the years, all I've heard is Women not finding adequate men and that seems to be a suitable topic. Why not turn this around? What about men not finding adequate women?

I have been married once. It didn't work because I wasn't PICKY. Why should I not raise my standard for the next time? I have dated countless men and it has been wearing.

@kerrimpr Expectations for marriage have changed. Ideas of romantic love, soul mates, didn't used to be issues. It was $ support & family.

The conversation shouldn't be centered around why there aren't enough intelligent, educated, cultured men, but rather why it's not culturally suitable for young, successful professionals to be single.

I applaud Kate's analysis of matri-mania because in 2011 it should be perfectly suitable to choose to be single rather than marry a less-than suitable mate.

What about heterosexual life partners? And domestic partnerships? In 2011 America, it's a sexual zeitgeist, not a sexual revolution.

Getting married to my wife is the best thing that ever happened to me. Men and Women alike consistently look for the wrong things in a spouse. Once they find one they do their hardest to find faults in that person. Our problems are of our own making.

It's just super refreshing to hear this different viewpoint. As a 49 yr. old, never married woman, the question 'why aren't you married? why haven't you been married?' has been asked sooooo many times, and I've never been able to answer it.

I feel like anything I'd answer would be negative, and I'm not negative about it. What I *can* answer is 'why are you single'? I feel like this question is way more interesting to answer, and much more positive!

We live in a free country, I think focusing on 'free to be' whatever you wanna be is the way to go!

My grandmother recently asked me if I think I'll ever get married, and I told her that there are some things I can control and some things that I can not. I can build a happy life for myself and if I find a partner to love and to build that life, then that would be amazing, if not, then I still have a great life.

I expected my Grandma to be aghast by my answer, but she was openly relieved. It made me happy that despite her old-fashioned outlook, she could accept my... Patience... in finding a "mate."

I like to talk about marriage in an unconventional way. Why can't we define marriage in our own way? Why follow anyone's else's lead?

I didn't get married until 30 and I was scared to death, and it still seems crazy, to promise to love someone no matter what. But the thing that I love about it is we completely have each other's back. If I want to change careers (which I did) he had my back. One day he decided to take on a huge project, and we're working through it. The conversation about kids came years after we got married.

It's a journey from start to finish so I think I see our marriage as fluid, ever changing, and exciting. No one ever talks about marriage in this manner.

Is this another symptom of our consumer culture -- that we're always shopping for the person who's just a bit better?

I'm a male college instructor in rural Minnesota. So often (too often) I see young, bright, promising female students who seem destined to settle for what I call the "cute, dumb, quiet, guy with the truck." Perhaps this is more prevalant in rural areas where the pickin's are slim and marital traditions are more entrenched in the culture. I think opportunity has a lot to do with whether or not a young women has the inclination or courage to follow a solo path into and through adulthood. I lament this trend and I grieve when I see these young women sell out by settling.

Some of what was said about men this morning - like that all men who are 35 suddenly want to marry, with the guest and host laughing - would be considered a bit misogynistic if men were chuckling on the air that way about all women.

I chose to spend the rest of my life with my husband because I love him and he is my best friend. We chose to get married because we plan to have kids and for long term financial security for ourselves and our children.

Why aren't you asking single women in their 50's to comment? We've gone through it and come out at the other end fine. Yes, I get treated like a social pariah and a second class citizen sometimes, but everyone gets discriminated against for something. I've had a very interesting life, speak several languages, have traveled to 35 different countries, have friends all over the world, and have very close relationships with family and friends. I cherish and adore the children in my life. I have the time and energy to care for my aging parents and other people in need. If society wants to stigmitize me, so be it.

I'm not exactly in the population you're talking about because I'm gay and married, but I have watched a lot of my straight female friends get married and they really sacrifice and change much more than their husbands do.

They do more housework, many who are gifted in their careers wind up being stay at home moms, etc. Looking at the life they wind up in, and are often unhappy in, I wouldn't blame anyone for not wanting to be married.

46 and single by choice. Never pressured by family & I am pretty independant. But I think there are a lot of women like me who had too many bad dating experiences.

IN my 20s it was poor choices of mate, in my 30s it was the dregs who hadn't partnered up. In my 40s it's the ones who have been thru broken relationships (or they assume I am gay because not married).

Tho it is weird sometimes at work - people don't know what to make of a single woman in her 40s - my coworkers mostly keep that to themselves and THANKFULLY do not try to match me up!! haha

Come on... Picky?? Expectations of finding someone that meets the 7 out of ten things you want in a mate... better look in the mirror and see if you can make the mark yourself. There is a lot of unwarranted self regard out there.

I'm a man 35 year old man who has never been married though I often romanticize the idea. I have always told myself I am waiting for the right thing to happen. I do not seek and 'hunt' or actively pursue the situation. I do find myself somewhat lonely at times.

While I feel this way a lot I also hear a of disenchanted and basically sad married people. Yet at the same time disappointed and together might be better than depressed and lonely....