From Swiping to Sexting: The Enduring Gender Divide in American Dating and Relationships

American dating experiences and the relationships that eventually emerge from them are highly individualized. No two stories are the same. But a new survey reveals an enduring gender divide in the way Americans approach dating, the hesitation they express when it comes to partner selection, and the negative aspects of experiences--whether online or off. Coming out of the pandemic and all the social and the romantic challenges it introduced, singles do not appear eager to date. Young women especially report being less interested in actively dating; after the pandemic, more report being single. Women are also more likely than men to report being unable to find someone who meets their expectations. And women, especially college-educated women, appear to have more exacting standards when it comes to dating than men do. Women express greater reservations about dating someone who does not share their views on abortion and are more likely to take issue with someone who smokes, lives with their parents, or is unemployed. Men care less about these qualities in a potential romantic partner. Politics is also a salient part of dating. Roughly equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans report that they would be less inclined to date someone of the opposite party. Support for Donald Trump is an even greater dating liability, especially among more moderate and liberal women. Despite the rising importance of online dating that has given singles a near-limitless supply of potential dates, young Americans express a good deal of ambivalence about using these platforms. Women report more negative than positive experiences using online dating sites and apps. Perhaps as a result, a growing number of young people are finding partners in their more immediate social circle. Compared to previous generations, young adults today are far more likely to say their current partner or significant other was a one-time friend.
Few topics capture our interest as completely and intensely as dating and romantic relationships. The process of finding a partner--and the struggle it frequently entails--is an omnipresent feature of the [...]