Single and Fabulous?

I remember this day exceptionally brightly. My feed was full of them. Just like Montecchi and Capuleti, they were fearless and bold. One of them was talking about "boys fasting" (like it should be considered as a treat of some kind), while another was mumbling about the importance of constant searching and raising the bar higher and higher to get the "biggest of them all". From that exact moment, I realized how foolishly blind one may be. It was the momentum. If you talk about something, it bothers you. The only thing that remains is to choose your camp and fight for it aggressively and bravely. The eternal question, however far from obsolete, is still with us. Single and fabulous, ready to have fun or dress to impress as in the best genre of misogyny?

Halsey, IG

"Being single" - a mythical creature that has been as old as Earth. For some, it is a problem, for some, a trend and for others, it is simply a reality that is not worth even gambling about. In modern pop culture and pop psychology, the concept of being alone has even been elevated to some "religious" terms. People are afraid to talk about it, or they discuss it as a remedy. An endless number of blogs and books about the benefits and beauty of being single or a ton of fancy videos and textbooks on how to find a boyfriend in 10 days. Let's admit that it's been a while since we have forgotten that the connotation of adjectives usually depends on the context. The reality isn't black or white. Single doesn't mean alone.

In fact, we have no one to blame. We were cowed by centuries of experiences, storytelling, and upbringing. Pop culture changes narratives like dresses, selling us the story of "Pride and Prejudice" with Mr. Darcy and then promoting the ideal of Samantha Jones, a strong, independent woman in the big city. But even these heroines became victims of the scripts. Double standards, indeed.

What's more, each of us secretly dreamed of a different ending to "The Devil Wears Prada", in which Andy is up to her ears in the world of fashion and a stunning career, forgetting about that thing that begins with an "M". Still, why did all the heroines in the end lean towards one and only, despite all the independence and freedom-loving nature behind them? Should we blame Hollywood? Or is something so widely discussed - just a basic need of any human being?

The statistics cannot lie. The Zoomers are one of the singlest and most undateable generations. With the higher isolation rates of both Millennials and Generation X, our generation is pioneering this highly questionable list. The reasons for such an outbreak of "all-alone" epidemic are extremely prosaic: social media, the appearance of online dating, the bitter pill of being able to open up to someone, and more issues to mention. Here, we will define them as paradoxes, just like Albert Einstein's laws - three and undeniable.

Connectivity paradox

Connected more than ever is quite a dubious statement. In the era of carefully curated and filtered experiences, one may easily fall under the illusion of ideal love. Indeed, we all read the same books and watched the same movies back then. Still, nothing has brought our illusions to such a realistic landscape as social media. This digital love fair can make genuine connections feel elusive, fostering a sense of isolation. Here, the connectivity paradox comes on the scene. How can you choose which party is more appealing during this feast of life without double-checking your choices?

Halsey for Vivienne Westwood, IG

Choice paradox

Next on the list is surely the presence of dating apps, which can go under the same "media influence" box. Online dating was supposed to make finding love easier, but it has its pitfalls. Apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge offer an endless buffet of potential partners, promoting a swipe culture that values quantity over quality. The paradox of choice means that even when we find a match, the constant question of "Is there someone better?" lingers. Gamification of love doesn't sound like a deal, but still, many are willing to play.

Mia Goth in MaXXXine, IG

Independence paradox

Another tale, which mainly brings up nightmares rather than peaceful dreams, is a tale of vulnerability. Opening up to someone is fundamental to forming deep connections but is also one of the most challenging quests. Here arises the paradox of independence. Our generation is the one mainly focused on individualism and self-efficiency - the critical components of "successful success". This hyper-independence can be a barrier to forming intimate relationships, as it discourages the interdependence that healthy relationships require. The desire for constant control and fear of seeming vulnerable and weak promote the cycle of loneliness, fooling us around rather than helping us evolve and connect.

Charlie XCX, IG

At the end of the day, there are many other paradoxes to explore, and this list indeed isn't supreme. Nevertheless, we cannot hide, nor can we doubt it - something went right and wrong at the same time. Is this a natural evolution resulting from changes in lifestyle and expectations? Or maybe it's somehow related to the growing numbers of depression and anxiety going around these days? We can say it's everything a bit and at once. What really matters is to never fool yourself around and know where and what you stand for. There is only one thing one can say for sure, the double-edged nature of our eternal question doesn't lie within the "single" part. It's hidden behind a tall and scary question mark that guards it.