A growing number of women in the U.S. are deciding to stay single rather than be in relationships that don’t make them happy, according to a Wall Street Journal essay. This change comes as more women focus on their careers, education, and friendships instead of traditional marriage.
Research from the Pew Research Center shows that only 34% of single women are actively looking for a relationship, compared to 54% of single men.
Dating coach Erika Ettin says men may seek relationships more because they often have smaller social circles than women. “Men generally don’t have as many friends as women do, which is sad but true,” she said.
Jessica Kriegel, author and chief strategy officer at Culture Partners, believes people need to think differently about what makes them happy. “Do I want to be married? Do I want a relationship? Or do I not? We need to start asking these questions,” she said.
In the past, marriage was seen as an important step in adult life. But today, many women don’t want to give up their goals or settle for a partner who doesn’t meet their standards. This is very different from earlier generations, when there was more pressure to marry young and start a family.
Experts say education and money are part of the reason marriage rates are falling. Women ages 25–34 are more likely than men to have college degrees — 47% compared to 37%. This has created what some call a “dating mismatch,” where women want partners with similar education and career ambitions but often struggle to find them.
Ettin says that for many women, things like a partner’s height matter less than whether their values and ambitions match.
