The Roe v. Wade decision, which had upheld abortion rights in the US since its landmark 1973 decision, was overturned by the conservative-led Supreme Court less than six months ago. The judgment altered the country’s nearly 50-year-old legal framework and caused 13 states to outright outlaw abortion as a result. But the verdict has an effect on more than just women who are expecting; according to recent research, many unmarried people are now examining their dating situations with great care.
Eight out of ten singles reported that the Roe v. Wade ruling has had an impact on their dating experiences
Nearly eight out of ten singles reported that the Roe v. Wade ruling has had an impact on their dating experiences in Match’s 12th annual research of the single population in the United States, which polled more than 5,000 singles. According to the study, 2/3 of single women won’t date someone who opposes abortion, and 13% of people who are actively dating said that the decision has made them “hesitant” to date. In general, 78% of these people claim that the restriction of reproductive rights has had a significant impact on their sex life.
It seems sensible that having fewer options might cause people to consider their dating and, more significantly, their sexual activity partners more carefully, according to Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist and one of Match’s scientific advisors who co-authored the study with Justin Garcia.
58% of respondents said it’s a deal breaker if a potential partner isn’t open-minded on key political issues
“A woman’s desire to build her family the way she wants to do so is…never going to change,” Fisher notes of the study’s findings. “I think that is what you saw in this midterm elections — this is at the very core of what a woman is, and a man, too. Your ability to decide when you are going to have a family is so primary to the human brain.”
Study’s co-author Garcia, executive director of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University and scientific advisor at Match, said in a press release that “singles are no longer shy about their political and cultural views, with a range of issues that are impacting their sense of security in all aspects of life.” This statement aligns with the findings that 58% of respondents said it’s a deal breaker if a potential partner isn’t open-minded on key political issues and that having a political opinion, even if it’s contradictory, is increasingly important to singles. 31% say not having an opinion on key issues is a dealbreaker, up from 16% in 2017. Garcia added that “today’s singles are demanding a new era of socially responsible dating.”