Gen Z's Evolving Views on Marriage: A Decline in Romance in Favor of Commitment?

Friday, February 14, 2025.

Gen Z’s evolving views on marriage highlight a significant shift—one where romance is increasingly detached from commitment. Economic realities, digital culture, and a preference for authenticity over idealism drive their approach to relationships.

For Gen Z, love is often secondary to partnership.

According to Pew Research (2024), 79% of respondents value marriage as a tool for financial and emotional stability rather than a romantic ideal.

Rising costs and job precarity mean that relationships are often evaluated through a practical lens.

Who Is Gen Z?

Gen Z, short for Generation Z, refers to folks born roughly between 1997 and 2012.

This generation grew up in an era of rapid technological advancement, global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic uncertainty. Their experiences with digital culture, social activism, and financial precarity have deeply influenced their views on relationships, intimacy, and marriage.

The Fallout of Hookup Culture

The casualization of intimacy, fueled by dating apps, has disillusioned Gen Z with traditional romance. The Institute for Family Studies (2023) found that 64% of Gen Z believes hookup culture has weakened emotional connections.

Esther Perel (2023) notes that this generation ostensibly swings between emotional detachment and intimacy fatigue.

Therapeutic Culture and Self-Focus

Gen Z’s embrace of therapy and self-care fosters emotional awareness but also encourages relationship boundaries that can prioritize individual needs over romantic entanglement. This leads to a focus on self-fulfillment within relationships rather than romantic fusion.

The Commitment Without Romance Paradox

• Emotional Intimacy Without Idealism: The Gottman Institute (2023) found that 68% of Gen Z prioritizes emotional closeness over passion.

• Partnership Over Romance: Pew Research (2024) notes that 68% of Gen Z couples favor egalitarian, pragmatic partnerships.

• Friendship as a Relationship Model: Esther Perel (2023) observes that many Gen Z couples frame their relationships around companionship rather than traditional romance.

Speculative Causes for Gen Z’s Shift:

• Romantic Disillusionment: Social media's hyper-curated portrayals of love may cause Gen Z to mistrust romantic ideals.

• Economic Realism: Financial instability shifts the focus from passion to survival.

• Redefined Intimacy: Emotional connection is decoupled from romantic performance.

A New Commitment Model?

Gen Z’s approach to marriage signals may not actually a rejection of romance, but rather a recalibration.

Their partnerships prioritize authenticity, emotional security, and friendship over fleeting passion.

Romance, in the traditional sense, may be on the decline—but commitment, reimagined, seems to be thriving.

Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.

REFERENCES:

Coontz, S. (2022). Marriage, A History. Penguin Books.

Esther Perel. (2023). The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity. Harper.

Gottman Institute. (2023). The Science of Relationships. Gottman Institute.

Institute for Family Studies (IFS). (2023). Generational Trends in Relationships. IFS.

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). (2023). Marriage and Financial Stability Trends. NBER.

Pew Research Center. (2024). Gen Z and Marriage: Values, Goals, and Changing Trends. Pew Research Center.