Even today, far more women than men prefer to date and marry up. They'd rather marry a high-earner than be one themselves. That way, they get half of the benefits without having to put in the 50-60-hour workweek.

I don't think it's genetic so much as women wanting to have a well-paid husband who can give her the three options she generally denies him:

-work full time
-work part-time
-stay at home full-time.

See “A Comprehensive Look at Gender Equality: The Doctrinaire Institute for Women's Policy Research” www.malemattersusa.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/the-doctrinaire-institute-for-womens-policy-research/