So how did views evolve over nearly 70 years?

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First, the traits that people value more today. The lines on the left in green indicate the traits that rose in importance over the years. For both men and women, mutual attraction and love rose up the ranks, to become the most highly ranked trait in 2008. (In 1939, women ranked “dependable character” as the most important quality in a prospective husband, while men chose emotional stability and maturity.)

Here's the chart showing what women said they want, in 1939 and 2008:

And what men said they wanted:

For both sexes, education and intelligence, good looks, good financial prospect, sociability, a similar education background and a similar political background all rose in the ranks over the years.

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Women ranked a favorable social status for their partner more highly in 2008 than in 1939. Interestingly, men rated a woman’s desire for home and children and good cooking and housekeeping more highly over time — perhaps because these qualities were no longer taken for granted in a wife.

Then there are the traits that declined in importance, shown in red on Roser's chart. For both men and women, the importance of chastity nose-dived, from #10 in 1939 to #18 in 2008. Emotional stability and maturity, a pleasing disposition, good health, and refinement and neatness also declined for both sexes.

For women, a similar religious background and a desire for home and children became less important in their mates, while men placed less value on ambition and industriousness in their wives.

Here is Roser's chart, showing what women said they wanted in 1939 and 2008:

And here is the same chart for men: