This is a layman’s understanding and if there are anthropologists among us that can correct or further elaborate on what is said here, please do.
First, a little basic mammalian biology: in mammals, the males compete and the females choose. The reasons for this are based in successfully propagating the species. Females carry, bear, and largely raise the young so they have much more at stake and much more to lose should they make a bad choice of mate. There is also the issue of paternity which is indirectly part of the same issue.
Females want a mate that can provide for and protect both the female and the offspring, thus enhancing the chances that their genes will continue to be part of the gene pool. They want a mate that is the best hunter they can find as well as the mate with the highest survivability (meaning he’s the strongest and smartest thus giving him a leg up on the hunt and in case of an altercation with another male).
They also want a mate that has traits that they want to pass onto their young: his masculine traits in males and good looks in females.
They also want there to be no doubt about whose offspring they are. The only way to do that in ancient times was through monogamy. The ability of males to produce many pregnancies is the origin of polygamy in both animals and humans. That’s also the reason the Jewish race of a child is determined by the mother since there is essentially no doubt as to who the child’s mother is.
Today, we have highly reliable contraception, both before and after the fact. We also have DNA based paternity determination. That solves the issue of paternity but the other reasons for females choosing remains intact: providing for and protecting the young and providing the best traits to the offspring. In modern times, wealth and income are also indicators of a male’s suitability.
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