Why Many Women No Longer Date - And What They're Doing Instead

So many women aren't even responding to the "U up?" minimum effort texts from men. Thanks in part to Jennie and the Burned Haystack Dating Method!

These smart women are planning their own solo travels instead and living a life that includes more freedom and fun pursuing their interests!

As we close the year (and I take the next week off from posting a new blog to enjoy the holiday season with loved ones), I want to leave you with a message of empowerment, clarity, and joy as you step into 2026. For an increasing number of women, the old expectations — marriage, relationships, finding the “right partner” as the key to happiness — are being rewritten. Simply put, women are discovering that men are no longer the answer to their fulfillment… but exploring on their own is.

A New Era of Female Independence

Women are pursuing their education, having exciting careers, and contributing powerfully to their communities volunteering making a positive impact. So many don’t need a partner to provide for them -- they can pay their own bills. So for many, the pursuit of love through dating apps, and investing precious time to carefully craft their profile only to deal with endless swiping is no longer worth it. Women try to chat with men who don't ask any questions about the women in return, go on dead‑end dates where men want to "keep their options open," and carry very unbalanced emotional labor supporting men who offer little in return. They understand relationships just don't deliver what they want. Instead of raising what feels like a man‑baby looking for his mother replacement or investing energy into relationships that drain rather than uplift, women are turning their focus back to themselves — and to pursuing their interests which often include traveling to new places for experiences they've been putting off for too long.

This isn’t a niche trend. Solo travel by women is a real phenomenon that’s sweeping the travel industry: according to recent travel trends data published by Forbes, women make up approximately 71 % of all solo travelers and American women are among the most likely to take multiple solo trips per year.

Why Women Are Traveling Solo — It’s Not Just a Vacation

Women are booking flights and taking to the road for freedom, personal growth, self‑discovery, and empowerment. Surveys show that a rising percentage of women do rate personal growth, confidence building, and freedom as their key motivations for solo travel, with many saying it boosts their confidence and problem‑solving skills.

Many women travel solo because:

• They want to experience freedom and flexibility — to choose what they do, when they do it, and how they do it. No asking anyone else for permission - "Do you guys care if we do X?" No hearing, "I'm bored."  "Can we go now?" when they're really enjoying something. No need to rush because others aren't interested in the museum or activity.
• They’re seeking self‑care and intentional time for themselves, away from the constant demands of caretaking roles. Women are often putting everyone else's needs and wants ahead of their own, and they want a week, or weekend, to just do what they want to recharge.
• They want to challenge themselves and grow emotionally beyond the boundaries of what they’ve always known.

The rise of solo travel isn’t limited to the young, either — women over 40, 50, and beyond are joining this movement in droves, often craving experiences that reconnect them with who they are giving them time to stop and think about what they truly want instead of constantly serving others' needs.

The Heart Behind the Trend

For many of the women I work with — divorced, widowed, married, or single and never married — solo travel isn’t escaping men, it’s choosing themselves. So good guys, don't get upset! There's plenty of room for you in our lives. After decades of raising kids, caregiving, supporting partners, helping aging parents, being there for friends, coworkers, and church communities, so many women have realized their own wants and dreams have come last. They finally reach a point where they ask themselves:
“What do I want?”  

And the answer is often: to explore places on my own terms. And when they know, they want to pursue it sooner rather than later while they know they have mobility and good health.

From Self‑Worth to Actualization

There’s a powerful shift happening — women are recognizing that their value and worth aren’t tied to what someone else thinks of them, but what they choose to do for themselves. And nothing says “I believe in myself” like stepping out of your comfort zone and onto a plane with nothing but a suitcase and a sense of curiosity.

At Travel With Joy TV, I’m helping women choose:
✔ solo weekend or overnight getaways
✔ week+ immersive adventures
✔ trips focused on learning new skills, recharging through wellness, adventure, or deeper introspection

…and more importantly:
✔ women building resilience
✔ women feeling confident navigating places on their timeline
✔ women returning home with pride in what they accomplished

Even Married Women Are Embracing Solo Travel

One of the most heartening shifts I see is that even married women are carving out solo travel time — not because they’re unhappy in their relationships, but because they honor their own interests and passions. They realize that a healthy relationship doesn’t hold them back — it supports their growth and independence.

Women are no longer letting “couples travel” and family vacations focused on kid activities be their only trips. They’re saying yes to themselves. Their relationships don’t restrict them — they enhance them.

Solo Travel as a Movement of Self‑Discovery

Solo travel is more than a vacation. It’s a true movement of self‑discovery, self‑confidence, and self‑love. And as more women choose this path, the culture around travel and independence is evolving rapidly:

• Forbes reports that searches for “solo female travel” have dramatically increased year over year.
• Women are the majority of solo travelers worldwide, reshaping the travel industry. This is great news as the industry responds by offering more to address the needs and desires of the solo female traveler.
• Female travelers cite confidence, growth, and autonomy as top reasons for going solo. Women are having so much fun on their own!

Your Journey Starts With a Step… or a Flight

As we wrap up the year, I want to remind you that your life is waiting for you. No matter your age, your status, or your past experiences, it’s never too late to put yourself first and pursue what fills you with joy, inspiration, and purpose. But don't wait too long. We're all a heart attack, car accident or cancer diagnosis away from a totally different life. Our mobility and good health can truly be gone in an instant, and that's why you don't want to make your solo travel a "when you retire" or "when you have more money saved" plan for the future. I'll show you how to go solo now!!

Thank you for being part of this growing community. I’ll see you in 2026 — and I can’t wait to help you get off the sidelines. If you're looking at others' trip pictures with jealousy right now, know this: you too can achieve your solo travel goals and embrace the limitless joy that comes from discovering your own adventures… and rediscovering yourself along the way.

To get started, download my helpful solo travel secrets. Then you can still book a private call with me (I'm re-evaluating this offering in the new year as demands on my time increase, so act quickly!) to get hugely valuable solo travel tips customized to you along with encouragement in a world where so many will try to hold you back out of jealousy. You can also request me to speak to a women's conference, work retreat, church, or other event that you attend needing a vibrant speaker who will inform, entertain & energize!

© 2025 Joy Huber. All rights reserved.

This blog and all content herein is the intellectual property of Joy Huber and Travel With Joy TV. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact: joy@TravelWithJoyTV.com.

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