A 2019 review examined differences between sexes in attachment styles.  The study indicated that men tended to have an avoidant attachment style, which minimizes commitment and promotes short-term relationships and casual sex. Meanwhile, women tended to have an anxious attachment style, which maximizes investments from partners and promotes exclusive relationships.

A 2012 study examined differences between sexes in relationship preferences. The results suggested that men preferred to date physically attractive women, while women preferred to date men of high educational, economic, and intellectual status. The study also found that men preferred to marry women who were younger and signaled higher fertility, while women preferred men with higher social statuses and more resources.  These preferences did not dissipate after marriage. Finally, men tended to desire multiple sexual partners more than women did.

A 2019 meta-analysis of 16 nationally representative US public opinion polls tracked changes in gender stereotypes from 1946 to 2018. 
 
The study classified predominant gender traits into three roles: communal, agentic, and competent. It defined a communal role as having the ability to handle people, and as being affectionate, compassionate, generous, honest, nurturing, outgoing, patient, polite, well-mannered, romantic, sensitive, and unselfish.  An agentic role was defined as the ability to make decisions and to remain calm in emergencies, and as being aggressive, ambitious, arrogant, confident, courageous, critical, decisive, demanding, hardworking, independent, possessive, proud, selfish, strong, and stubborn.  A competent role was defined as having the ability to create or invent new things and the willingness to accept new ideas, and being innovative, intelligent, level-headed, logical, organized, smart, and detail-oriented.
 
Results indicated that while women were more associated with communal roles and men with agentic roles, both shared competent roles. Moreover, polls indicated that ascriptions of the agentic trait to women held steady over the past seven decades, though their communal and competent traits increased.  
 
[NB: It is strange to see a rise in communal roles for women during the seven decades that saw massive increases in abortion and divorce (mainly initiated by women). Clearly in traditional societies these three roles complemented each other. However not every man, nor every woman acted with high virtue in these roles. Such is a different dimension, though much needed for complementarity or partnership between the sexes to flourish.]

For the good of the child, who, to flourish, is dependent on effective partnership between his male and female parents.  

Pat Fagan, Ph.D.