I find this sub makes me consider how the male and female mate selection process has changed but remains the same.

What changed....

women are now a majority in colleges 60/40 inverted. The mix of promiscuity, discretion, and chastity was a little different but it was there. The infidelity of couples who later married and are together continues to be toxic. Promiscuous guys married later and seem to be in great marriages. (Observation)

Many couples were the result of family introductions or at least early approval. This was in my experience from the larger families. (No data, just observation). I see less of this as the number of potential partners and information available is much greater. Plus you have a public history.

Bad boys got the girls early but after pregnancy they stuck with the women at least until kids were raised. Now marriage after pregnancy is an option.

Women went for the high potential partners early [18...23] and no one thought this unusual. No men were proven bets but my observation is women knew. And 50 years later if the men didn't pan out their lives are miserable with nagging wives (mostly). Those couples with moderate expectations of a humble future are happy. I don't blame the wives as it takes two to make misery.

Men picked women based on good enough. It wasn't really a beauty contest. Generally the physical match was about even.

More promiscuous women that didn't lock down a husband later married much weaker men without enough ambition and drive to get past an OK career. This was more like by 25 to 27 years old for the choices to narrow. Mothers coached overtly to find quality.

Women sometimes married gay men as no men of only a few came out. Much improved now.