women s rising levels of educational attainment and the associated nanowing of the gender gap in education are one of the main drivers of change with major implications for gender equality the formation andor dissolution of partnerships and childbearing decisions van bavel educational attainment paid off for men both in the labour market giving them access to higher salaries and the marriage market making them more attractive partners becker the traditional marriage pattern was also compatible with the gender imbalance in higher education in favour of men