For previous generations, sexual debut (losing one’s virginity) and marriage were very closely timed. Not so today. This report examines the extended time—more than a decade—that the average American now spends looking for love.
The behaviors and strategies we choose during this time are crucial. They impact the chances and stability of our future marriages, our ability to have children, the number of children we may have, and even our health and mental health. Even so, this “dating decade” is when people encounter the least guidance and the least (or worst) information about how to reach their goals to start a family.
This report explores what today’s dating culture looks like, what this means for women, for men, and for our politics and society more broadly. It also presents honest information about how young adults might align their behaviors and choices with their hopes, and avoid (or minimize) wasted time or emotional heartbreak along the way. Further, this report discusses the role of older adults, parents, policymakers, and cultural institutions in creating a healthier environment for future generations to meet and mate.
