Over the weekend, two contrasting discussions about womanhood went viral. Emily Ratajkowski shared her personal thoughts on birth, divorce, and single motherhood, while Hannah Neeleman, a mother of nine, became the focus of a cultural debate about traditional family roles.
A rising anti-marriage movement is gaining traction, driven by viral trends on TikTok and statements by celebrities who often portray men negatively. Columnist Ingrid Jacques highlighted this trend in a recent USA Today article, warning that it may eventually harm women more than men. She described a growing sense of “heteropessimism,” reflecting women’s disappointments with relationships. Jacques noted that trends like “divorce glow-ups” contribute to this divide.
Research shows that married women report higher happiness and better health than single women. Jacques pointed out that many modern media portrayals depict men in unflattering ways, reducing them to stereotypes of laziness or toxicity. She mentioned the bestselling book “Yesteryear,” where men are often seen as immature or oppressive.
Recent statistics reveal that only 47% of American households were married couples in 2025, a significant drop from 66% 50 years earlier. Furthermore, only 37% of married households included children under 18, compared to 54% in 1975. Jacques believes that the shift is linked to liberal attitudes, with those on the left opting out of traditional family structures more frequently than conservatives.
Jacques concluded that a return to valuing marriage is essential for bridging the divide between men and women, urging a move away from dismissing the institution entirely.
