Once upon a time, in that curious land of trending polls and baffling data charts, a mysterious phenomenon emerged: the young women of America seemed less keen on tying the knot than ever before. Back in 1993, it was thought that 83% of ladies dreamed of wedded bliss, but nowadays, research indicates that most unmarried young adults still aspire to marry—78% of Gen Z and 73% of Millennials hope to wed. Meanwhile, men have not significantly diverged, experiencing similar declines in marriage aspirations. What could be the cause? Some blame it on careerism or feminism, while others firmly point the finger at good ol’ housing problems.
Indeed, while our nation is busy constructing luxurious high rises, the dream of homeownership is becoming more fantastical than a wizard’s castle. The idea that young folks envision a life where they can bring their spouse home to a cozy house with a white picket fence and a lawn gnome guarding the front yard seems as outdated as bell-bottom pants. Making housing affordable should be the quest of the hour, though politicians would rather joust with more pressing issues, like, say, pancakes versus waffles.
And then there’s the news that the average age for first-time marriages has been increasing, now around 30.2 for men and 28.6 for women. Our nation’s current policies, some argue, are rolled out like a well-meaning red carpet for the older folks, while young people find themselves tripping over their own shoelaces. It’s a flailing attempt at achieving adulthood when housing prices are as out of reach as a cat stuck in a tree.
Meanwhile, a new cultural twist has emerged: more young women are eyeing an exit from the land of eagles and dreams entirely, even though there’s no strong data to verify such significant emigration plans. If reality checks happen, they seem enamored with Europe’s charms. However, a cheeky commenter dreams of a scholarship to send these women on a trip to the world’s least prosperous nations, tracking how quickly they’d return to the land of liberty.
In this upside-down world of shifting desires, snail-paced homeownership, and the allure of foreign lands, the question remains: has the American dream simply become too expensive, or is it a case of prolonged adolescence? If our young folks don’t find a stable place within these borders, they might just seek comfort elsewhere. Meanwhile, back here at home, we can only watch, wait, and perhaps giggle a little at the peculiarities of modern life.
