Amid the releases of shows like “Sterling Point,” “Off Campus,” and “Bridgerton” in the past few years, there’s certainly been no shortage of romantic stories on TV. However, these romances between the main characters and their respective love interests sometimes pale in comparison to the platonic, female friendships on screen. While Annie, the protagonist of “Sterling Point,” is caught in a love triangle, she’s simultaneously developing a sisterly bond with her estranged sister Ramona. Bonded by the passing of their mother, Annie and Ramona each provide the other with a piece of her; Annie grew up with her, and Ramona looks almost identical to her. In “Off Campus,” the love and consideration Hannah and Allie have for each other is apparent in the way they encourage one another to pursue their goals. Personally, the hardest I cried when watching the latest season of “Bridgerton” was when Lady Danbury and Queen Charlotte laughed their way through a tearful goodbye before parting ways as lifelong friends.Â
While these storylines are works of fiction, it’s possible they’re a reflection of the friendships women experience in real life. Studies tend to reflect this trend. The women who are marrying, if they marry at all, do so much later in life. A Wall Street Journal study found that only 34% of single women were currently looking for romance, compared to 54% of single men. This has been traced to a multitude of factors. According to an NPR report, this is one of the first generations of women who have always had the right to credit and financial independence. Women are also entering the workforce at increasing rates and are working their way towards closing the wage gap. They no longer need to rely on a man for financial stability, and this security, coupled with a college degree, gives women the freedom to be more “picky” when choosing a life partner.Â
So, women today are seeking someone who fulfills them beyond a financial standpoint. And for many, that fulfillment comes from their family and female friendships, rather than exclusively from a romantic partner. As a result, some women are decentering romance from their lives, instead finding fulfillment in hobbies, personal goals, and platonic friendships.Â
Political trends also play a part in this phenomenon. As some women and men increasingly diverge on the political spectrum, these differences can lead to roadblocks in the dating pool. On reality TV shows such as “Love Is Blind,” women have rejected men on multiple occasions if they don’t see eye-to-eye on certain humanitarian issues.Â
Current attitudes towards women in the media sadly compound this tendency for women to be hesitant as they navigate the modern dating pool. Shane Gillis’s commentary on how “women just dress like whores now” in his “Saturday Night Live” monologue, mere days after the 2024 Cornell rape case was reopened, is just one example of women being viewed as comedic material rather than people with genuine emotions and experiences.Â
For many women, the people who do see their complexities are the other women in their lives. When the depth of female friendships becomes the point of reference, surface-level romantic relationships don’t seem worthy of women’s energy.