Her comments came in response to a recent Wall Street Journal article titled “American women have never been this resigned to staying single,” which explored the growing trend of singlehood among educated, financially independent women in the United States and the evolving dynamics that make relationships more difficult to pursue.
Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), Apoorva Govind launched into a now-viral thread that has garnered over 10 million impressions, where she boldly claimed that many single women in their 30s are essentially “hunting unicorns” — seeking an ideal man who might not realistically exist.
“Ok, f*** it, I’ll spill — All my friends still single in their 30s? They’re hunting unicorns. Somewhere along the way, a man stopped being just a man. Now he’s supposed to be your therapist, best friend, passionate lover, future father of the year, financial provider & probably a mind reader too. All wrapped up in one devastatingly handsome package,” she wrote.
She argued that pop culture, Hollywood movies, and the hyper-curated world of social media have influenced women to expect perfection from men — a rare combination of emotional intelligence, physical attractiveness, financial stability, romantic capability, and unshakable mental health.
According to Govind, this mindset has made dating harder than ever, as women are often encouraged to “not settle,” which leads to extremely long checklists that no man can satisfy in totality.
She went on to highlight how dating apps have further warped people’s perceptions of dating and partner availability, suggesting that an overload of options creates a false sense of abundance and control, when in reality, most people end up more confused and dissatisfied.
“The casual fling marketplace & the commitment marketplace run on different fundamentals. I’d treat finding a match in the commitment marketplace as a zero-sum game. Your goal is to win and get out of the pool as quickly as possible or you’re in for a lot of drama,” she wrote, suggesting that prolonged dating in one’s 30s often leads to emotional exhaustion.
Govind offered practical advice by encouraging women to trim their lists and refocus on essential values, long-term compatibility, and mutual growth potential instead of superficial attributes like height, looks, or salary level.
“Be like VCs betting on their future potential instead of venture debt providers who look at your current P&L,” she cleverly concluded, drawing a business analogy to explain the importance of investing in people’s long-term character and growth.
Ok fuck it, I’ll spill — All my friends still single in their 30s? They’re hunting unicorns. Somewhere along the way, a man stopped being just a man. Now he’s supposed to be your therapist, best friend, passionate lover, future father of the year, financial provider & probably a…
— Apoorva Govind (@Appyg99) June 23, 2025
The post has generated thousands of comments and shares, with a wide range of people expressing agreement or dissent. Some praised her for her raw honesty and realism, while others criticized the generalization of women’s standards or accused her of dismissing women’s right to have preferences.
Nonetheless, her insights have resonated deeply with many and have fueled continued conversation about the ever-evolving expectations in dating culture, the influence of technology and media on relationships, and why more people — particularly women — are choosing to remain single in the modern era.