What Retirement Looks Like for Single Women In America

Did you know that economic challenges influence the retirement landscape in America? For many of us who have been in the workforce for the past fifteen or twenty years and still remain unwed or childless, it’s not strange to wonder, What will retirement look like for me as a single woman? Many of us grew up hearing things like, “Have children so you can have someone to take care of you when you’re older,” or “You’re never going to feel fulfilled unless you get married and have kids.”

But as we can see in today’s relationship climate, having children and getting married are simply not enough, with 47% of women now saying that they will not have children for fear of being a struggling single mom. As of November 2024, Millennials and Gen Z are suffering the most when it comes to unemployment, with some employers outright stating that they will not hire Gen Z due to a lack of professionalism and motivation to excel in their roles. So, this means that if fewer people are working, then fewer people will want to have children, and thus, the economy continues to suffer. If no one has a career they can rely on, then disposable income starts to become less and less.

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Many corporations are now raking in residuals—hence the price gouging—in order to sustain themselves should something similar to COVID ever happen again. The lack of preparation that many businesses faced when a global pandemic swept the nation was astounding, and it seems no one has since recovered—and rightfully so. As older, single, and child-free Gen Xers and Millennials start to consider their retirement plans, they are fearful of what the future may hold.

Unlike our grandparents and parents, who may have worked arduous jobs in factories, group homes, construction, and trade, their life expectancies were not as high. In contrast, newer generations are more into corporate jobs, retail, and, for some, streaming and online content creation. This shift means the Full Retirement Age (FRA) has increased, reflecting longer life expectancies. Now, we’re expected to live longer, but fewer children are being born to pay into Social Security benefits for the generation before them, and so, we have a problem.

Retirees and those planning for retirement face financial hurdles such as inflation, market volatility, and limited cost-of-living adjustments in Social Security benefits. These factors erode purchasing power and impact retirement savings. In terms of purchasing power, there are many Boomers who own homes that can be passed down to their children—Gen X, Millennials, and in some cases, Gen Z. On the other hand, there are Boomers who simply cannot afford to assist their children financially, let alone help them create generational wealth.

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Things like marriage were originally intended for wealth transfer, not love. We see this with many celebrities—entertainers, business owners, athletes—who marry for financial stability and keep their wealth circulating among themselves. It’s no secret that as African American men rise in financial status, they are more likely to date and marry a woman outside of their race, thereby circulating wealth within that community rather than their own.

Single women are skeptical of marriage and childbearing, which places them at a disadvantage when the odds are already not in our favor. A significant number of Americans have minimal retirement savings. For example, a 66-year-old individual with no retirement savings and a substantial mortgage was advised to delay claiming Social Security benefits to increase monthly payments and to implement strict budgeting measures.

Feminism had a positive purpose at first but has quickly gone downhill as more and more men with reduced income learned that by restructuring the movement, they could be removed from the financial conversation entirely. Men no longer feel motivated to earn more than their partners as the rise of OnlyFans and online content creation began to take form. Additionally, initiatives like DEI have allowed more qualified women into the workforce.

This was intended to create earning equality for women and increase government tax revenue since both parties in the home were working. However, things slowly began to shift as women started to substantially outearn men in unconventional ways, such as the aforementioned platforms. It’s no longer a requirement to just have a college degree to earn revenue—OF models such as Bonnie Blue have seen earnings of up to $700,000 a month.

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Marriage has always been marketed to women as love, not free labor—when, in fact, that is what it is. In modern dating, it seems women should not expect a man to pay her bills, provide security and stability, or even retire her at the tender age of thirty-three. However, men should expect their wives to bear children, cook, clean, raise the children, bring a steady paycheck into the home, and satiate their sexual desires. The scales have tipped so far off balance that the system is crumbling. What is the solution if single women cannot rely solely on marriage to help them prepare for retirement?

Retirement for single women today consists of multiple life insurance policies, certifications, and leaning more into their femininity to no longer be excluded from conversations surrounding hypergamy. Host of The Slumflower Hour, Chidera Eggerue, states, “If I were to get married to a man, I would only be marrying a man who is putting land, properties, and assets in my name. We know that men are unreliable. Not only are they unreliable, but they are also a woman’s apex predator. That’s right, the man you’re laying with could kill you, and so when we are encouraging women to get married, we are encouraging women to step one inch closer to our death.”

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If you’re a single woman still hopeful about one day finding a partner to settle down with and start a family, only do so if that person can be a viable asset on your quest for retirement. Otherwise, you’re risking your life for companionship that does not benefit you. Not only do you need to start preparing for the financial aspects of retirement, but also for lifestyle adjustments. You will need hobbies and interests outside of your partner and children—if you choose to have them—because a man can leave at any time, and the children will grow up and establish lives of their own.

As a single woman, you need to stop looking at the clock and start looking in the mirror. How can you invest in yourself to attract a partner who will be beneficial to your livelihood? Financial independence for women is a myth if that is your only plan. Place the burden back onto men who are seeking parenthood to leave behind a legacy. Legacies are for men with money.

by Harley Miller