There is a new paradigm of social status emerging.
In the past it was appropriate to visualize social status in terms of rank. A linear hierarchy that held certain qualities or traits of greater or lesser value than others. Money, fame, status; these were (and still are, but are on the wane) seen as valuable indicators of power and ability to rear offspring.
The raising of offspring has, in the past, been fraught with dangers but has become increasingly less so in the past several decades with the proliferation modern medicine, social safety nets and public education. As such, mates no longer need be chosen by the strongest, wealthiest or most dominant traits that have served our race so well in the past.
We have reached a threshold. Barring any unforeseen plagues, or foreseen ones for that matter, the human race is here to stay. What that means is, we as a race are free to mate with whomever we wish. We can date someone because they make us laugh or are artisans which inspire us.
The continuum of traits which we had viewed (rightly, due to survival necessity issues) as a linear hierarchy may now be viewed as a plane. A flat surface where that which we personally find valuable becomes socially desirable. And because we define value ourselves, the plane resolves itself into a sphere. Everyone’s own quality of choice is at their own apex of the sphere.
