#Heterofatalism

A new wave of research and cultural critique is challenging longstanding beliefs about heterosexual relationships, revealing why many women are left emotionally exhausted by dating men—while also highlighting how women worldwide, including in Thailand, are crafting new rules designed to protect their well-being and assert their needs in the search for love. Leading this transformation is the concept of “heterofatalism,” a term gaining currency in academic circles and popular media alike, which describes the resigned belief that dating men will be emotionally unfulfilling—even as many women continue to pursue these relationships.

A growing wave of research and cultural critique reframes how relationships work in the modern era. It explains why many women feel emotionally drained by dating and how Thai women, alongside global peers, are reshaping dating culture to protect their well-being and needs. Central to the conversation is a concept now gaining traction in academia and media: heterofatalism. It describes a guarded belief that dating men may be emotionally unfulfilling, even as many women continue to seek love.