A recent claim in the world of women’s studies says the more educated a female is, the less likely she is to get married.

This theory has produced varying arguments.

One such argument has to do with the timing of the issue, which visiting women’s studies professor Colette Morrow recognizes.

“It is clear that women and men defer marriage longer, the higher level of education they are pursuing,” she said.

Austin Sawicki, a philosophy and women’s studies graduate student and women’s studies teaching assistant, agrees with this reasoning.

“A more realistic hypothesis would be one that suggested that the more education a woman receives, the more likely she is to postpone marriage,” he said.

Still, other arguments can be made as to why the original claim holds weight. Some believe higher education for women releases them from their “dependence” on men and allows a woman to support herself.

“As females gain higher education, they are less dependent on male partners for economic stability,” Morrow said.

With higher education, more professional opportunities are available for women, which may lead to difficulties balancing work and family life.

“It is harder for a married woman to fully achieve her career potential than it is for a married man to do so because wives usually do more of the household and childcare work than husbands do,” said Diana Swanson, associate professor of woman’s studies and English.

Another contributing factor to women getting married later in life is the American culture’s views on marriage. It is no longer an institution one is forced into by family or society. The decision to marry is based on choices and personal happiness.

Julie Neubauer, a teaching assistant in the women’s studies program and law student, agrees.

“I think the more modern view is that the more educated a woman is, the less likely she will believe she has to be married to be OK or feel successful in life,” she said.

Swanson said in a society which no longer condemns single women, those educated are perhaps realizing they can still feel successful without having a marriage and family.

While various reasons have been proposed to explain this idea, most cases depend on the people involved and their personal views on the subject.

“Personally, I would not find dating someone ‘smarter’ than me intimidating in the least,” Sawicki said. “I would prefer the person that I date to share my intellectual interest and pursuits, and ideally challenge me in that area of my life.”