What an amazing question! Of course I think that this book should be required reading....for male AND female students! It is important to remember that MEN MARRIED FOR MONEY too! There were lots of men that had lost fortunes in the gaming halls or through bad business ventures and they could have had their mothers (maybe they were widows) and a bunch of yet-to-be-married sisters to provide for. Maybe their fathers were the ones that had blown through their money and left the son to deal with the aftermath.

Young women were much more likely to be ardently conducting searches for husbands, but there were men doing this as well. All kinds of back-room deals were taking place. 

I think that the best lesson that a younger audience could get out of this book is that just because the times were different (ballroom  then, instead of a dance club today) the same types of thought processes are happening every day in our society.

The book should serve as a warning to those of you that really are searching for a long, happy and healthy life with a "partner" not just a husband or wife. Both of you have to be  as invested as the other person is or the lop-sided marriage will probably fail. Sorry to be Debbie Downer. Unhappiness is a rotten thing to deal with!

Good luck finding your perfect match!
Have a fun and interesting weekend!
Jill