So, who wears the smarty pants in the family?

When President Obama gave his controversial speech entreating children to stay in school and get their degree, it seems women were listening. For the first time in U.S. history, there are more women with a college degree than men. It has long been acknowledged that those with a college degree are more likely to have higher incomes than those without, and that the wage gap between men and women has begun to close (although not completely). Statistics show that earnings for women grew 44% from 1970 to 2007 compared with a 6% increase for men.

But how are these changes in economic and educational background affecting our relationships and our families? In 1970, the number of husbands who had wives earning more than they did was 4%; in 2007, 22% of wives earned more than their husbands. Our recent economic downturn has also hit men harder than women, with men carrying 75% of the unemployment burden. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009) The outmoded image of the husband bringing home the bacon and the little lady being financially dependent is going nearly extinct in the 21st century, particularly with the Great Recession.

Families who've experienced the greatest gains are those with both husband and wife holding college degrees. Men with a college degree are not only gaining higher economic benefits because of their degree, but most are also marrying someone with equal earning potential. This makes married couples who both have a college degree the heavyweight champions of income.

Americans are overall better educated today than they were four decades ago. Yet interestingly, those with a college degree are less likely than ever to marry those without one. Why else would marriage rates decline as women get smarter?

The lesson is this, guys: get your degree because Princess Charming is earning more than ever before. Otherwise, she won't be coming to rescue you!

(One great social trends study on this timely topic is: "Women, men and the new economics of marriage. by Richard Fry and D'Vera Cohn.")