Are you a successful career woman who would like to find a loving relationship? Have you been frustrated by the men you meet and feel they are not your equal? You may be wondering if you'll ever meet a man who measures up and you are not alone in this plight.

As women have taken on more traditionally male high-powered jobs, this has created a strong ripple affect on their love lives. In times past, women often married up, using their good looks or background to get a man who was considered a "good provider." But, if women are going to occupy many of those "good provider" jobs, perhaps they can loosen up the need for Mr. Equal Income and think of other important qualities that a life partner can offer.

For example, this study conducted by Michael R. Cunningham, a psychologist and professor of communication at the University of Louisville demonstrates a shift in priorities that has already occurred. He asked college women if, upon graduation, they would prefer to marry a high school teacher who works short days, has summers off and energy to help raise children, or with a top-earning surgeon who works a heavy schedule. Three-quarters of the women chose the teacher!

Here are some ground-breaking facts paraphrased from a 9/23/07 New York Times article entitled "Putting Money on the Table" by Alex Williams. For the first time in history, 20 something women who work full time in big American cities like New York, Chicago, Boston and Minneapolis, are earning more than the same age men based on an analysis of 2005 census data by Andrew Beveridge, a Queens College sociology professor. This gap stems from a significant difference in education - 53 percent of women in their 20s working full time are college graduates, compared to 38 percent for men. Plus, more women have graduate degrees.

Ouch - that gap is definitely going to require rethinking male marriage partner potential isn't it? And that shift is happening for women in their 20s as noted above. But this change is happening at many levels.

I have several college friends who were earning over $200,000 in high powered jobs who married men that were not their professional equals. One friend married the manager of a small Inn where she stayed on vacation in the South of France and another married a man who was the personal assistant of a wealthy business man. They are happy couples with children and it's working out very well for them.

Personally I married a man who didn't graduate from college. Even though I have an MBA, I figured his education didn't have to be a factor in my MRS. He's kind, adorable, generous, emotionally available, and supportive. He can pretty much fix anything, leaves his job at work and comes home to make me tea in the afternoon. I don't think I'm lacking for much as a result of his not being my education or career equal.

You can say I settled if you want. And I'll even agree - I settled for a heart of gold and a happy relationship with a really good man.

If you are a highly successful woman reading this article, and you'd like to find love, maybe it's time think about other qualities that would work for you in a romantic partner. You want him to be employed and financially independent? That's fair. But how much money he makes might not be the most important criteria to use. It's time to look past the paycheck to find the love you want and deserve.