Ladies of the blogworld, I have a question for you.

When dating, and going through your list of “ratings” for your dates, do you factor in a man’s ability to be a good provider?

My grandmother and I were having this conversation recently. I’m of the opinion that men of my generation were not raised to be providers, but partners (which is why you don’t meet many men in my age bracket who are in that particular role). Grandmom is of the opinion that men of my generation are both lazy and spoiled, and have had everything handed to them by their mothers and later girlfriends and wives, and have not had to work as hard as their fathers and grandfathers to support a family. I’m sure both of us have valid points.

However, someone’s ability to be a provider doesn’t even enter into my top ten. It’s not even in my top twenty. And it seems so old fashioned and….chattel like. Provider.

I told grandmom that I look for a partner, someone who has similar life goals, who has a similar background, education, family life, economic status, and who is really interested in having a real relationship in which both parties are equal. Not one in which the woman does all the traditional womanly things and the man mows the grass and changes the oil, but where the both of you do what needs to be done. Make sense?

What about you men out there? What do you consider when dating women? Would you date or even consider dating a woman who was totally bust ass broke?