You may want to try widening your social circles if this is a recurring theme in your life. Making friends as an adult is hard and making intimate connections sometimes even harder. The best thing I did for myself and my dating/personal life was get involved in charity work. You get to give back, meet people and improve your community. Who knows —- you might even fall in love with your community.

I am currently celebrating one year since my last layoff with no real job lead in site. Plenty of dead end interviews despite 8 years of experience. I have some part time freelance work but it is not sustainable.

I literally lack the time and energy for free labor. I looked into it a bit last year and honestly, what I saw in the community was depressing. lots of healthcare for sick (often terminal) elders, homeless soup kitchens, and lots of work with kids (I hate kids). Maybe I'd help make the world a little better but I'd lose myself in the process.

The previous comment wasn't a personal reflection, I know I'm not viable for modern dating and I'm not puting myself out in the market. I was simply pointing out a persistent societal statistic. It's not really one localized to any location, demographic, or time period. It's always been true.

I’m aware of this but I still don’t understand what your point is. Some men are hard done by because they allow their partner to pursue a career which is unlikely to be economically fruitful? I want you to elaborate on what exact message you’re trying to deliver. I’m not being facetious, I really don’t get it.

There's not really a larger point. You asked for a clarification from the comment upchain (which by the way, was not me), and I explained the reasoning that may have it come up. It was a small aside, but the comment's main point was gender-agnostic: it's easier to pursue low paying passions when you have a safety net. Be it a spouse, parents, or a small loan of a million dollars.

You asked "who cares", and I answered "women" because sadly, yes. Financial status is a bigger barrier for men dating women than women dating men, which may affect why women feel less pressure to pursue a non-profitable passion when in a relationship. It's an answer that invites more and more questions, but I don't necessarily want to turn this into a modern dating thread.