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It's not about being a trophy wife any longer, but being an equal.
By Christine Schoenwald — Written on Dec 07, 2015
As shown on Mad Men, it used to be that a successful man showed he had really made it by having a beautiful, if not always super-intelligent woman on his arm. She was arm candy, and once they married she became what was known as a trophy wife.
A trophy wife was the perfect stay-at-home mom who cooked, cleaned, and was more than presentable in social situations. If she was on the less intelligent or accomplished side, that was OK ... as long as she was beautiful.
But things have changed, and as a Huffington Post article suggests, the new modern trophy wife isn't just prized for her looks — she's now intelligent, strong, and surpasses her significant other's earning power as an alpha female. When considering a relationship (which the alpha female doesn't necessarily need), she aims to be part of a power couple, not someone else's attractive plus one.
Mark Zuckerberg married his college sweetheart, Priscilla Chan, a Harvard and medical school graduate. George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin, a London-based Lebanese-British lawyer, activist, and author who specializes in international law, criminal law, human rights, and extradition. These women may have married famous, extremely successful men, but they're not slouches when it comes to achievement.
Status is attached to a woman who is successful, not to a woman who can only offer an attractive package. Here's what you need to know about the new trophy wife.
1. Trophy wives of the past are the powerful alpha women of the present.
Men are no longer the success object and women aren't the sex object; it's now about powerful people seeking powerful partners. Peer marriage is the goal, as is respect for both parties.
2. Her success makes her attractive.
As Henry Kissinger once said, "Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac." And the new trophy wife can hold her own in the boardroom as well as the bedroom. She's not afraid to ask for exactly what she wants. Big brains are beauty must-have.
3. She's an alpha earner.
The modern-day trophy wife doesn't depend on her husband to take care of her financially. She actually often makes more money than he does. High-income female providers are becoming more prevalent and men are starting to pay more attention to a woman's earning potential when choosing a mate.
University of Wisconsin economist Maria Cancian says, "It used to be that men were a good catch because they were high earners. It now looks like this applies to women, too."
4. She's crazy smart.
The new trophy wife is not only educated in the finest universities, but she has street smarts as well. Although her education was completed, she's always actively learning and growing.
5. She works her ass off.
The power partner isn't content to stay where she's at in terms of her career. She's goal-orientated and strives to be the best at everything, Whatever her job is, she got there by starting at the bottom and working her way up; no one handed her anything. She's not afraid of hard work; in fact, she thrives on it.
6. She isn't afraid to voice her opinion.
The trophy wife of the past let her husband do the talking and tried to sit there and look pretty, but the current one has no problem telling you what's on her mind. She isn't afraid to give you advice on something you're not doing right. Guess what? She doesn't even care if you like her or not.
7. She can be intimidating.
The power alpha female will call you out on your sh*t, especially if you have outdated ideas about gender roles.
Now, when you hear the term trophy wife, you'll know they aren't referring to the subservient woman who used her looks instead of her brains, but to the confident, career-driven woman who cannot only match her partner in earning capabilities, but exceed him.