<p>For those who believe in the existance of a ''trophy wife'', shun the stereotype. In fact, most women do not trade beauty for money and if they do so, it's a rare phenomenon.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to new research, "trophy wife" stereotype is largely a myth fuelled by selective observation that reinforces sexist stereotypes and trivialises women's careers.<br /><br />"I find that handsome men partner with pretty women and successful men partner with successful women," said sociologist Elizabeth McClintock from Indiana-based University of Notre Dame.<br /><br />On average, high-status men do have better-looking wives but this is because they themselves are considered better looking.<br /><br />"Also, the strongest force by far in partner selection is similarity in education, race, religion and physical attractiveness," McClintock noted.<br /><br />She reached these results after analysing a nationally representative sample of young couples in which both partners were interviewed and rated for physical attractiveness.<br /><br />"There are many examples of rich men who partner with successful women rather than 'buying' a supermodel wife," McClintock added.<br /><br />"I have heard doctors' wives referred to as 'trophy wives' by observers who only notice her looks and his status and fail to realise that he is good-looking too and that she is also a successful professional or was before she had kids and left her job," McClintock said.<br /><br />Actually, beautiful women are unlikely to leverage their looks to secure upward mobility by marriage, she concluded in a paper set to be published in the journal American Sociological Review.<br /></p>
<p>For those who believe in the existance of a ''trophy wife'', shun the stereotype. In fact, most women do not trade beauty for money and if they do so, it's a rare phenomenon.<br /><br /></p>.<p>According to new research, "trophy wife" stereotype is largely a myth fuelled by selective observation that reinforces sexist stereotypes and trivialises women's careers.<br /><br />"I find that handsome men partner with pretty women and successful men partner with successful women," said sociologist Elizabeth McClintock from Indiana-based University of Notre Dame.<br /><br />On average, high-status men do have better-looking wives but this is because they themselves are considered better looking.<br /><br />"Also, the strongest force by far in partner selection is similarity in education, race, religion and physical attractiveness," McClintock noted.<br /><br />She reached these results after analysing a nationally representative sample of young couples in which both partners were interviewed and rated for physical attractiveness.<br /><br />"There are many examples of rich men who partner with successful women rather than 'buying' a supermodel wife," McClintock added.<br /><br />"I have heard doctors' wives referred to as 'trophy wives' by observers who only notice her looks and his status and fail to realise that he is good-looking too and that she is also a successful professional or was before she had kids and left her job," McClintock said.<br /><br />Actually, beautiful women are unlikely to leverage their looks to secure upward mobility by marriage, she concluded in a paper set to be published in the journal American Sociological Review.<br /></p>