Single women buying homes rattle the dating market

An article in The Guardian offers a fascinating look at fragile masculinity, contradictory expectations and social friction. The headline says it all: “Single women are buying more houses. The men they are dating are not responding well.” Many of the women interviewed say their status as homeowners led to defensive or hostile reactions from dates, with one noting that men lost interest in her once they discovered she owned her own condo. The article says women often feel stuck in a “double bind” because they’re encouraged to be independent and self-sufficient but often encounter men who prefer traditional gender roles. One woman who recently deleted her dating apps said, “Where is the pool of men who are self-sufficient?”