More women attend liberal arts colleges than men, women’s salaries continue to grow and, as Hillary Clinton said in a recent speech, “the glass ceiling now has eighteen million cracks in it.” What does that mean?

It means, as a woman of the new millennium, you’re likely to date a guy who is (not to sound too demeaning) a few rungs below you on the ladder to lifelong success. As someone who has dated her fair share of men who lack any aspirations (my disapproving dad calls them slackers), I know a thing or two about these types of boys. I’ve learned many lessons, which I will now share with you if you’re at all interested in pursuing, or continuing, a relationship with one of these self-declared duds.

Let’s begin with the upside. Guys who aren’t busting their balls at work in order to get a better job or a higher wage are more likely to be attentive and available to you. (More time for massages? Count me in!) They tend to be calmer, more easy going, and, most likely, able to hang out more often.

Unfortunately, that’s about it in terms of the pro’s. So, let’s look at the downside and, more importantly, how to deal with it.

The first question you have to ask yourself is: why is he not interested in a forward moving career? He might be satisfied with the job he’s got. If it makes him happy and he earns a salary where you won’t be supporting him financially, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, if he’s not moving ahead in life because he’s lazy, this could be a terrible thing. Especially if you’re more of a go-getter. Guys can’t be fixed, it’s important to remember this if you’re a fixer like I am. No amount of pushing and prodding will motivate a guy; instead he’ll just get annoyed and you’ll just get frustrated.

One type of boy who you might assume is a slacker but might not be, is the college dropout. Keep in mind that just because a guy dropped out of college doesn’t mean he’s not motivated or a hard worker. I’ve actually met a few very successful guys who were dropouts. Many just didn’t find higher education satisfying, and instead pursued a different path, be it a career in writing, the arts, or even the restaurant biz (one guy I met was a pastry chef!).

All in all a relationship with a non-motivated boyfriend or a college dropout boyfriend is only a problem if it’s a problem for you. A little convoluted, I know, but it makes sense. If a guy who strives to be manager, CEO, or the next president of the United States is your type, then why bother with a guy who’s satisfied being an assistant? But if you’re in love and a dude who treats you well, makes you laugh, and makes your toes do that weird stretchy thing, then why throw it all away for someone else’s idea of success?

[Photo courtesy of flickr]