I looked at the beginning of the article. The part about the women in the 30ies (In Farsi they use the adjective "Torshide"). I've seen a few in my family and I've seen them a lot in Iran as well recently. The problem could vary. Sometimes it is the girl (i.e. wants someone who is rich and well-educated at the same time). In Iran, those that are well-educated, tend to have modest income, while those that are rich, tend to not be educated/have degrees as they're strictly successful businessmen who don't need it. In other situations it is not so much the girl's problem. It could be the girl's retarded mother who ends up scaring off potential suitors by making ridiculous comments or suggestions and engaging in ridiculous inappropriate discussions that paint red flags in the potential suitors minds. This article is about American Muslims so the problems are different. Racism/prejudice depends on what the individual expects. If someone has strong ties with the cultural background of their parents, obviously their options will narrow down. Then there's the issue of family interference. Income differences etc.