Why Women Are Leaving Men Behind: A Response to Modern Misogyny
As both men and women increasingly pivot away from traditional dating in favour of singlehood and diverse life pursuits, the dating scene is experiencing a notable decline in activity. While this shift can bring about some perceived drawbacks, it also heralds a range of positive developments. Women, in particular, are navigating this transformation with a keen awareness of its implications, reflecting both the challenges and opportunities that come with redefined relationship dynamics. As personal growth and individual fulfillment take centre stage, the evolving landscape of romance reveals new dimensions of self-empowerment and choice.
For centuries, women have endured an oppressive mix of manipulation, gaslighting, and bullying from men who seem determined to dismantle their confidence every given possible way in the streets, at work, at school, on social media, in the comment sections, on TV, on billboards, on the covers of tabloids, and at their own homes. Yet, despite men’s ongoing efforts to control, belittle, and demean, women are increasingly walking away from relationships with men — and it’s not hard to see why.
Beyond the lies, mind games and physical abuse, many men still insist on dragging their own mothers, sisters, partners, daughters, colleagues, acquaintances or just female celebrities and public figures down. Whether it’s mocking their intelligence and skills, trivialising their interests and hobbies, or bullying them for their bodies, the arsenal of tactics to degrade women is well-stocked. Heaven forbid a woman enjoys science fiction, video games, or intellectual pursuits without being branded an “outlier,” or worse, reduced to being a “token girl” in male-dominated spaces. But perhaps nothing is as laughable as the modern trend: men shaming women for their periods, as though menstruation — a biological process that quite literally sustains the human race — were some sort of moral failing.
Add to that the absurdity of body shaming in every form. Whether a woman is praised or criticised for her figure, it’s never her choice — it’s a judgment passed down from men who think they have the authority to decide what’s aesthetic or beautiful. And of course, when women become pregnant, they’re shamed for the inevitable physical changes brought on by carrying another human being. These criticisms, as petty and baseless as they are, serve to reinforce one truth: women are always made to feel that their bodies are never their own and should put up with all sort of comments on them.
All this hatred that targets women is originated from the patriarchal system induced clubs: incel forums, alpha/sigma-male groups, red/black-pillers and Andrew Tate — Joe Rogan — Jordan B. Peterson fans. Members of any of these platforms of manosphere are perhaps the most pitiful manifestation of modern masculinity’s decline — a collective of entitled, bitter men whose biggest achievement is blaming women for their own lack of spine, charisma, self-awareness, and basic hygiene. They wallow in self-pity, convinced that the world owes them sex and attention simply because they exist, while doing absolutely nothing to be worthy of it. Instead of, working on their social skills or emotional maturity, they’d rather stew in online echo chambers, spewing hate and throwing tantrums like rejected toddlers about women “changing” while they remain trapped in the 1950s (or even the Middle Ages) where emotional labor is women’s responsibility and basic respect is too much to ask. The irony is palpable: they claim to despise women, yet they’re obsessed with the idea that women won’t touch them — and let’s be honest, who could blame us? Women aren’t the problem; their warped sense of entitlement and refusal to take accountability for their misery are. They’re not victims of women — they’re victims of their own delusions.
Let’s get one thing straight: misogynistic men are not just emotionally stunted, they’re an evolutionary dead end. These overgrown babies think they’re entitled to a woman’s time, body, and attention while offering nothing but their fragile egos and emotional incompetence in return.
And to their surprise, women aren’t sticking around to be treated like objects of scorn anymore. The growing phenomenon of women choosing to be single — or even turning to a new trend of favouring the company of nature and animals (because, quite frankly, even that bear, a wild animal, is a better company than a man who doesn’t respect you nor treat you like a normal human being) — is gaining momentum. And why not? Animals don’t gaslight, lie, abuse, rape, or expect you to coddle their fragile egos. Women now have the privilege of choosing their peace over the toxic relationships they once felt compelled to maintain.
Of course, this shift is leaving men lonelier and, predictably, angrier. The self-pitying lament of “Where have all the good women gone?” is deafening. Here’s a thought: they left because they got tired of being insulted, abused, and diminished at every turn. The irony is that as women increasingly withdraw from unhealthy relationships and men in general, male loneliness escalates — leading to more aggression and violence. It’s as though men are shocked that their constant attempts to undermine and control women have driven them away.
This is why it’s more important than ever for women to stand strong, protect themselves, and foster communities of support amongst themselves. The rise in male violence — borne from their own loneliness and frustration — is a clear warning that self-defense isn’t just a skill, it’s a necessity. Many women who refuse to participate in this toxic patriarchal system, who no longer tolerate the lies and belittling, are already forging stronger, more resilient bonds with one another. It’s also shown in the growing number of only-women communities or girlfriends buying properties in groups and moving in together.
And yet, there are the tragic “pick-me” ones — those who scramble for likes from men by reinforcing the same systems that oppress them. They eagerly side with the very men who disrespect and objectify them, offering themselves up as foot soldiers in a misogynistic war. These women are dangerous, not because they believe what they’re saying, but because they are so desperate for validation from men that they are willing to throw their fellow women under the bus just for a crumb of male approval, not realising that no amount of bending over backwards will save them from being disrespected in the end. Newsflash, ladies: groveling for acceptance from men who already despise you won’t protect you — it only guarantees that you’ll be discarded the moment they find someone younger, quieter, or more pliable. Both groups are embarrassing relics clinging to a decaying system that the rest of us have long since outgrown. So, it’s essential not to let these pick-me women — and the toxic men who fuel their insecurities — divide us.
The message is clear: women no longer have to tolerate disrespect, manipulation, or degradation. They are leaving, and they aren’t looking back. Just like in Women Talking (2022), a perfect example of the mass exodus of women. Men who continue down this path of misogyny will find themselves increasingly isolated, while women grow stronger in the communities they build, free from the weight of toxic relationships with abusive men.
So, good luck with that loneliness. Women have moved on.
*For all the angry men rushing to the comments to accuse me of being a "bitter feminist" who just pulls statements out of thin air, I’ve graciously added some resources to support my arguments—so feel free to educate yourselves with actual studies instead of ranting about women.☺
1. Toxic Masculinity and Male Aggression: A study published in the American Journal of Men’s Health highlights how traditional masculinity and insecurity contribute to male aggression, which can increase male loneliness as women disengage from unhealthy relationships.
2. Women’s Disengagement from Marriage: Pew Research Center’s study on marriage trends shows that an increasing number of women, especially millennials, are choosing to remain single, citing dissatisfaction with traditional gender roles .
3. Gendered Body Image Pressures: Research published in Body Image explores how societal pressure on women’s physical appearance, often dictated by male standards, affects women’s mental health and body autonomy.
4. Gaslighting and Psychological Abuse in Relationships: A study in the Journal of Interpersonal Violence discusses how gaslighting and psychological manipulation in relationships contribute to women’s decisions to leave toxic partnerships .
5. Women’s Increased Social and Financial Independence: The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report details the growing empowerment of women in education and employment, leading many to opt out of traditional relationships when they are unfulfilling .
6. Emotional Labor and Gender: Research highlights the disproportionate emotional labor women perform in relationships, contributing to emotional burnout. Men often depend on women for emotional support without reciprocation, creating imbalanced relationships (Hochschild, 1983).
7. Body Image and Gender: A study by Frederick et al. (2007) shows how societal pressure on women’s bodies leads to increased self-objectification and mental health issues, often exacerbated by male-driven expectations and commentary.
8. Rising Singlehood Among Women: Pew Research Center (2020) reported that an increasing number of women are opting to remain single, prioritising personal well-being over relationships that do not serve them.
9. Male Loneliness and Aggression: A 2018 study by Holt-Lunstad et al. linked male loneliness to rising aggression and hostility, particularly as traditional gender roles erode.
10. Violence Against Women: WHO (2021) data shows that intimate partner violence continues to be a critical issue, with a direct link between feelings of male inadequacy and acts of violence against women.
11. The Psychology of Male Entitlement: A study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin highlights how certain men feel entitled to women’s attention and affection, leading to frustration when those expectations aren’t met. This entitlement often stems from outdated patriarchal beliefs.
12. Impact of Internalised Misogyny: Research in the Journal of Counseling Psychology explores how "pick-me" women, driven by internalised misogyny and a need for male validation, can undermine gender solidarity and harm their own well-being.
13. Emotional Incompetence and Gender Roles: Research in Psychological Science connects male emotional incompetence to traditional gender norms and its consequences in relationships.
14. The Psychology of Fragile Masculinity: Studies in the Journal of Social Issues delve into how fragile masculinity exacerbates entitlement and male aggression when challenged.
15. Internalised Sexism in Women: Feminism & Psychology highlights how internalised sexism in women leads them to seek male approval at the expense of gender solidarity.
