Over the years, an overarching narrative has prevailed in society that single Black women are undesirable. While this stereotype has lived on for years, research results are saying differently. Yet again, the numbers never lie.
Society, often perpetrated by pop cultural beliefs, has often projected that single Black women are angry, aggressive, and bitter. Above all things, society has also dubbed Black women, especially those with darker skin and African features as “ugly.” In a study that was released in 2016, researchers found that there was a significant degree of stereotype for female physical attractiveness within society. They also found that those negative stereotypes existed specifically for Black women. For white women, it was easier to receive positive beauty stereotypes.
New Data about Single Black Women — And Women in General
In a recent article by The Hill, the publication broke down the decline of heterosexual romantic relationships for American males. This new development, partly triggered by the pandemic, signals a new era for many men in America. This is also true for men and friendships. According to the Survey Center on American Life, thirty years ago, 55 percent of men reported that they had at least six close friends, but that number has considerably declined in the past few years. In a 2022 research conducted by the Pew Research Center, 63 percent of men below the age of 30 reported being single, compared to 34 percent of women in the same age bracket. The research also concluded that younger men are more likely to be single, compared to older men.
The Dating Gap Widens
In a now-viral article by Greg Matos, he addressed the rise of singlehood for American men. Matos stated that because times have changed, women have healthier standards for relationships that men are forced to abide by or remain single. In his article, Matos stated that women are more likely to be able to thrive solo, without needing a romantic partner.
“This means a relationship skills gap that, if not addressed, will likely lead to fewer dating opportunities and longer periods of being single,” Matos wrote. “There’s less patience for poor communication skills today. The problem for men is that emotional connection is the lifeblood of healthy, long-term love and it requires all the skills that families still are not consistently teaching young boys.”
Because dating apps are inundated with men who are looking to make a romantic connection, women are overwhelmed, and this hampers the chances of authentic connection. A report from GlobalWebIndex indicated that worldwide, men represented 62% of dating app users, and this affected their chances of finding partners online. Additionally, the overwhelming statistics indicated that women were overwhelmed and inundated with too many options.
Surprising Stats
The statistics may seem surprising to many people who assume that single Black women have the highest non-coupled rate, but the numbers disagree. Additionally, the pattern remains that although many men may be available to date, there is a significant shortage of men who meet the income and educational requirements that most women envision for a lifelong partner.
Single Black women fall into the category of women who want better relationship outcomes. With the upswing of Black sisterhood, self-care, Black girl luxury, and the soft life, many single Black women are realizing that they deserve to live effortlessly. They are also coming to the realization that the glamorization of “struggle love” is a fallacy.
While the data may be surprising to some, the numbers just proved what Black women knew all along.