Striving for an education while still looking for a mate can be intimidating to most BYU-Idaho students, but it just might be harder for intelligent women.

Maureen Dowd, a columnist for the New York Times, will release a book called Are Men Necessary: When Sexes Collide, about the sexual revolution and the paradoxes experienced by women who want both a career and a family.

In a preview entitled “What’s a modern girl to do,” Dowd cites a 2005 report by British researchers finding that the higher a woman’s IQ, the less chance she had of having a family. The reverse was true for men.

Women often are forced to choose between a career and a family. Latter-day Saint women have been taught that their families are their most important responsibility, but they are also taught to be educated. So when education intimidates so many men, what’s a Mormon girl to do?

While some BYU-Idaho women do experience problems with intimidated men, many Latter-day Saint men desire to marry intelligent women. Their support for educating women does not wane. Actually at BYU-I, it flourishes.

Max Checketts, Academic Vice President, explained that education helps a woman be more confident in the world and better prepared to live in it. Checketts encouraged each of his daughters and his wife to get an education. Education can lead to women living at what Checketts calls her “highest and best use.”

Still, some female students feel that their level of intelligence intimidates men.

Lydia Jones, a sophomore from Rexburg, used to be a math education major. When she met guys, they would be intimidated so she would try to ease the message.

The moment she would say math, men “would put a wall up right there.”

“Because you’re a girl you’re kind of expected to know less,” Jones said.

Intimidation may be due to sociological and biological factors or communication style.

According to Looking Out, Looking In, a book that explores interpersonal communication, while humans like to be around talented people, there are differences between men and women. Studies suggest that women are impressed by people who seem completely competent, whereas men need to see some human flaws.

Grover Wray, chair of the Department of Sociology and Social Work, explained why high-powered women intimidate men.

He said that naturally men like females who are dependent. Men want to be needed. Women who don’t need them intimidate them.

Richard Taylor, BYU-I disability services employee, explained that education offers flexibility for anyone. Women may need to work while rearing children, and some may never marry. Education offers safety and many additional options.