For Catherine Ketchum, a 23-year-old working in finance in Manhattan, a boyfriend she can’t picture as her husband is an unappealing prospect.
“When you’re in a relationship, you’ve committed to the fucking bit, and it takes a year to break up,” she tells me.
Without a label, Catherine feels freer. She confidently speaks her mind without worrying about what it means for the future, works through the pros and cons of the match, and if she wants, walks away.
“It’s easier for me to turn people over faster and figure out logistically what I want,” she says. “I’m more into being single until I can find someone that I’d actually consider marrying.”
I’ve found Catherine’s philosophy is common among my Gen-Z peers. While previous generations may have had a series of relationships — from the serious to the casual — we only want to commit if a guy checks every box on our future-husband wish list. This is the age of dating apps, with so many potentials at our fingertips. Why bother with a hard launch?
