Situation in my hometown in rural India: Young men from poor families are unmarried and finding it very hard to get women. Almost all young women get married, and usually to men who from nearby towns and cities. Situation in my city: Men often marry women from smaller towns. Westernized women often find it hard to get married to a man they'd actually want. Basically the leftovers are: 1) Poor in small rural villages 2) Highly educated and modernized women in cities Women are optimizing for lifestyle and money. They want a guy who can provide them with a better economic life. Men are optimizing for family life. They want a woman who will be more manageable at home. This leaves men with no economic status, and the "independent" woman... for each other.