ut how, if at all, people differ in their views on spouse choosing-namely, what are their perceptions of an ideal spouse, and what they feel are the most important factors they themselves must possess in order to attract the opposite sex.
             We shall look at this issue of spouse selection and perception from two perspectives :
              The Singaporean males' point of view vis-â-vis the Singaporean females'
              The perspectives of people of different religions
             Each shall be dealt with in a separate section.
             1
             Spouse Selection and Perception: Mars and Venus-The Great Divide
             Back in the prehistoric days, the Neanderthal man looked for women with curvy contours and child-bearing hips because these signify fertility, while the cavewomen were impressed by cavemen with muscular physique because of their ability to hunt for food and protect the family from intruders. In short, the criteria for selecting a proper spouse was quite short and simple because the gender roles then were very clear-cut and distinct as well-males were the hunters, females were the domestic keepers.
             Nowadays, however, this distinction has become somewhat blurred due to the modernization of civilization, industrialization and the liberalization of women's rights. From President Gloria Arroyo to home-made talents like Natasha Kwan, career women are a common phenomenon in almost all parts of the world. Given such financial independence resulting from higher education levels, they no longer look upon men as just the income provider. Hence in terms of spouse selection, they begin to become more stringent.
             Indeed, our survey results show that 83% of Singaporean women cannot stand chauvinistic males and men with the 'Neanderthal attitude'. As Linda, 27, a bank manager puts it, "Nowadays, the cavemen are out. SNAGs are in. Gimme a SNAG anytime, I&ap...