miss independent

in the name of self-preservation, i have decided to blame society for the increasing number of single women. before you call me a bitter, old, cat-lady, let me explain. the way i see it, society and our technologically-focused culture is hindering our ability and willingness to go out and meet new people and start relationships. increasing promotion of women empowerment, while good for equality, is serving to encourage singleness and put women on equal levels as men. don't get me wrong, i think men and women should be treated equally and deserve the same amount of respect, but at the same time, by pushing women to be independent, saying that we are better off without a man by our side, is also causing more women to purposely avoid having a man in order to feel more empowered.

additionally, more and more mainstream female singers are promoting girl power. songs like lindsay's "i decide" or katharine mcphee's "over it" are songs of girl-strength and independence. i will admit, i enjoy listening to these songs (see previous entry), especially after being rejected or dismissed. they are the songs i listen to when i want to feel stronger than i actually am or need to remind myself that i can stand on my own two feet. but that's just it. these are the songs i listen to when i don't what a guy by my side- when i'm sick and tired of boy-drama and want to prove that i can be alone and happy. of course, we all know these phases don't last too long, and i soon find myself lying in bed, singing along to rachel proctor's "didn't i" and nick's "what's left of me." but i digress.

it's not just pop culture that's turning us away from men, it's technology that's making it more and more convenient to be alone. for example, i-pods and various other mp3 players are nearly a necessity to most people. but what do these little music-playing wonders do? they allow, nay, encourage people to be antisocial. in previous ages, someone sitting alone in the park was an invitation to strike up a conversation and make a new friend. now, that person is sitting alone, but the ears are plugged with cute, little, white buds, making any approach seem unwelcomed. i challenge everyone spend a day i-pod free, walking around, sitting alone, and see what happens. even if no one approaches you (i'd argue we've lost the art of talking to strangers), you'd be amazed at the things you notice, see, and hear when you're not all caught up bouncing along to avril's "girlfriend."

of course, the previously mentioned challenge only works if you actually go outdoors to wander around. this brings me to my next society-induced singleness tool: online dating. i know, you're all thinking that online dating is only for loser who can't get anyone on their own via "normal" routes (meaning, bars, clubs, and other such activities). however, online dating is becoming amazingly more and more popular. and those guys who truly can't get action on their own? well, they're on the bachelor. or survivor. but that's besides the point. moving on... so online dating is becoming increasingly popular. think about it: why go through the effort of dressing up and going out with the hope of meeting someone interesting, when you can sit at home in sweats and log-on to match.com. after all, it's less harsh to be rejected online than in person. at least online you can convince yourself the hot, 6-pac, 23-year old from nyc is actually a wrinkly, flabby, 45-year old from south dakota. additionally, you don't have to deal with those lame pick-up lines... just don't poke back.

i could think of a bunch more reasons why society is to blame, but that would take too much time, and i have a final to study for. oh, there's another reason- competition for grades, jobs, and the like is getting tougher and harder, which means we need to be spending more time studying and working, especially if we want to be considered equal to our male counterparts. also there's the rising prices of gas and movie tickets. "traditional" (or high school) dates are now more expensive than ever. why pay $24 for two tickets, when you can rent a dvd for $5? what sort of future implications does this all have on the future of romance?! what will happen to hopeless romantics like myself? are we doomed and destined to be single? okay, that's enough rhetorical questions for now. back to studying the wonderful world of consumer behavior.