Thus, the optimal strategy for men (or at least, an alternative to the red pill): Serial monogamy where you appear to be a good candidate for marriage and willing to marry, and then always bail before you become married or common law.

I think I’ve been doing this accidentally. By which I mean it wasn’t my intent, but I have had several multi-year relationships that were headed towards marriage before I opted out. Every time I got to the cusp it was just hard to “take the plunge” on the institution as it currently exists in the West.

I don’t regret not marrying anyone I didn’t marry. I don’t regret not having children anyone I did not have children with either. Modern men are well advised to call their shots and gate keep commitment.

And I don’t think it takes marriage for women to stop putting in effort, lose ambition, and start (either by default or by direct action) putting more and more responsibility on the man. All while simultaneously, almost reflexively, contesting authority. In almost every LTR I’ve had my girlfriend gained weight, our sex life diminished, she started taking it easier in her career/ambitions, and expectations of me grew over time. They were all more than happy to try to shoe horn me into the “traditional male role” while they themselves wanted to pick from the buffet of privileges and responsibilities.

I’d say “I clearly see Western women struggling between their feminist indoctrination, the innate selfishness and narcissism of youth, and their biological impulses” as they get older, but they’re not, really. They’re not struggling. They’re just trying to have it all. This is why modern feminism is just female nature run amok. They won’t check themselves. Why would they? Only a sustained market response will change behavior.

The flip side, of course, is that I’m getting older and I haven’t had children yet. So for each side, men and women, I think this is a lifestyle choice without a future. And it’s interesting to travel the world and see other cultures not struggling with this (mostly Eastern Europe, LATAM, and SEA). I completely understand men of means opting out of Western women and either moving to those areas or finding a wife there. I have known many who have, and I understand the appeal. But for Western civilization to continue I think the pendulum is going to have to swing back more to the traditional side of things. And that means women have more to change here than men do.