The rise of the 'Sugar Mama'?

Women are better educated than their husbands, a new Pew study reports — and increasingly out-earning them. While The New York Times’ has taken a dim view of the buzzed-about study, “The New Economics of Marriage: The Rise of Wives” — arguing that women are the overworked, under-romanced “victims” of this role reversal — other commentators see proof that women can now enjoy new power as "sugar mamas," coveted by under-earning men. What's the reality?

Men have it better than ever: “Millennial moms” scramble to balance dueling duties of work and home, Petula Dvorak says in The Washington Post, while American husbands work less, live longer, and reap “benefits of wives who are bringing home the big bucks.” A boon for women? Hardly. It's still “a man’s world, only a little more comfy these days.”

"More women in the workforce make bigger bucks than husbands"

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But does that have to mean that women are suffering? It’s not as if all men are loafing around, mooching off their hardworking women, says Jessica Mack in Gender Across Borders. “Money is a sticky wicket” in any relationship, but news that women are learning and earning more is "uplifting." Why portray modern women as “victims for earning more (instead of awesome, kick-ass professionals) because it rocks the gender norm boat"?

"Oh dear, does he love me for my cash?"

Women are making gains — but men still rule: Men shouldn't “get too excited about the prospect of finding a sugar mama,” says Alex DiBranco at Change.org. These shifts “have yet to smooth the playing field.” Even though women do tend to be better educated, they’re still only earning about 78 cents on the man’s dollar.

"Opportunities for working wives and male gold diggers"