The couple died, long live the couple? If Valentine’s Day remains an unmissable event, the Z generation reinvents the rules. The “Bold Love” stands out as a new way of loving: freer, less restrictive, freed from traditional patterns.
According to a study of the Fruitz meeting application, 64 % of young singles aged 18 to 34 want to move away from conventional relations. A figure that illustrates a deep mutation in sentimental expectations: between the quest for independence and rejection of social injunctions, the couple redefines themselves.
The end of the main compulsory stages
Long, love followed a linear journey: meeting, cohabitation, marriage, children. Today, these stages are no longer considered essential: 60 % of young singles no longer consider marriage or parenthood as essential. For Florence Escaravage, coach in romantic relationships and founder of Love Intelligence, it is not a rejection of the couple, but a reinvention of their codes. “Young people want to feel free, but with benchmarks. They build their relationships at their own pace, without haste or injunctions. »»
However, this claimed freedom hides a paradox. “Many flees the constraints of the past, but are looking for a form of emotional security,” analyzes Soazig Castelnérac, creator of love always, a media dedicated to love well-being. She nuances: “The sustainable couple is less based on the absence of constraints than on a sincere confidence and commitment. »»
Sociologist Christine Detrez, observes a transformation of representations: “Single and exclusive love seduces less. We accept more the plurality of romantic journeys. From now on, the attachment no longer merges with possession. “We are witnessing a recoding of representations. Love has long been socialized as an exclusive and fusional ideal, but this vision is questioned. What seemed “natural” becomes a construction to deconstruct. »»
A more flexible, but more lonely love?
If the traditional couple is no longer obvious, does that mean the end of attachment? Not necessarily. The trend is to personalize relationships: 71 % of young people believe that their generation is more open and adaptable in love.
“Love is no longer a frozen structure, but a dynamic in motion,” explains Christine Detrez. “We no longer look for a unique model, but a connection that evolves with the needs of each. »»
For Soazig Castelnérac and Florence Escaravage, this romantic flexibility is partly its origin in the divorces observed in previous generations. “Many are afraid of commitment,” said Soazig. “With the valuation of well-being and the idea that you must think of yourself, couples do not want to give up their comfort. When we hear about baby-blues, climate crisis and wars, commitment no longer seems to be a priority. “She also sees it as a way to avoid conflict:” Do not formalize a relationship is sometimes dodging the couple’s inevitable tensions and compromise. »»
For Christine Detroez, it is not a rejection of love, but a redefinition of forms of attachment. “A single relationship for life may no longer be the only model. »»
A consequence of feminism and social transformations
Beyond trends, the Bold Love reflects a broader mutation of society. “This generation tends towards more equality between men and women,” observes Florence Escaravage. “Freedom does not mean infidelity, but becomes the base of a fulfilled relationship. »»
This transformation is not done without tensions. “We are witnessing polarization,” notes Christine Detrez. “On the one hand, young women sensitive to feminism and independence. On the other, some young men who perceive it as a threat and adopt a more conservative posture. »»
Has love lost its importance? Not really. It is not simply the central orbit around which all revolves, but one star among others in a constellation of priorities. “Before, love was at the center of everything. Today, he coexists with career, travel, personal development. It is up to him to adapt, not the other way around, ”concludes Florence Escaravage.
A new model in transition
If the Bold Love translates a clear evolution of romantic relationships, it still raises questions. Real release or simple adaptation to modern constraints? What is certain is that love is no longer a fixed model, but a model space according to its own rules. Perhaps the real change is there: in the possibility, finally, to choose.
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