In many cultures, traditional heterosexual male preferences for spouses have centred upon a woman's preparedness – and willingness – to fulfil childcare and other domestic duties and not on her academic achievements or career potential. This kind of expectation on the part of men has served as a significant obstacle to women pursuing careers outside the home. It is for this reason that recent data on educational attainment within married, heterosexual couples is a cause for celebration. In many countries, university-educated men are now proportionally much more likely to marry university-educated women than was the case in their fathers' generation. This shows that more men are valuing the potential of their female partners to develop a career outside the home, and represents the breaking down of another barrier to equality.