Men date down, women don't. More women have agency than previously; they attend college at higher rates and can then support themselves without a partner. The dating market is distorted between communicated and revealed preferences.

I'm unsure if this can be solved at a societal level, free will, preferences, all that (similar to expectations in China around marriage, wealth needed to be seen as a fit partner, etc). Regardless, social safety nets should catch people, and it's not just young men [1]. Young men must be given a reason to have hope, and robust systems (through policy) to help encourage their success if not college (community college/trades programs for anyone, for example).

[1] https://jacobin.com/2024/10/working-class-men-health-unemplo...