There really is a marriage market you know?

Yes, certainly some are indeed lovestruck and live happily ever after. For the other 99.99% of the population it is indeed a market. We look for the best deal we can get through the sale of whatever it is that we have. Very unromantic, I know, but here’s some proof.

More than half of women would consider asking a male friend to father their child if they failed to find the right partner by a certain age, a survey suggests.

A survey of attitudes towards contraception found that 56 per cent of women would think about such a course of action in the absence of the right man. The report showed that both single men and women in Britain have concerns about fertility and meeting the right partner.

More than two thirds of women not at present in a relationship worry that they will not be able to conceive naturally, while 26 per cent of men have similar concerns.

About half of single female respondents said that they thought about meeting the right partner frequently or daily, with many suggesting that they would consider settling for second-best if their search were fruitless.

The writer of the article seems to think that it says something about either contraception or fertility. Which it might do, a little, but the real story is that women will settle for second best (men will too of course, they just weren’t asked here). Or more likely third, fourth or fifty fourth best.

And if you’re willing to settle for less than being swept off your feet  by the man of your dreams, if you’re willing to compromise, willing to take the results of the bargain you can make, then you’re in a market.

You’re haggling to get the best you can with what you’ve got to pay for in that market. Looks, personality, brains, career, whatever. But just because there’s rarely cash money involved doesn’t make it any less of a market.