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If you are tired of rushed romantic relationships with no future, the trend is now towards patience and personal development, particularly among singles from the LGBTQIA+ community. This trend, called “slowmance,” encourages partners to take their time to get to know each other, understand their values, interests and life goals before making a serious commitment.
What if we took our time in love? This is what a new love trend called “slowmance” is proposing. This contraction of “slow” and “romance” embodies this desire to take our time to discover the other, far from the rush of first meetings without a clear commitment. This approach, in total opposition to phenomena such as the “zero date” observed last year, emphasizes listening to emotions and mental health in love. This allows the relationship to develop in a more natural way, while remaining attentive to the needs of the partner.
Dating apps confirm this trend, particularly among the LGBTQIA+ community. A recent DATE study (Data, Opinions, Trends, Expertise) conducted by the American application Hinge with more than 14,000 users around the world reveals that 50% of people from the LGBTQIA+ community want to learn how to better establish trust, while that 58% of respondents want to learn how to express their wants and needs in relationships.
The “slowmance” also changes expectations around the first date: 31% of respondents believe that the pressure is lower during a date organized in a café, 21% when it takes place in a bar.
Moe Ari Brown, a relationship expert at Hinge, explains: “Dating can be especially challenging for queer people for a variety of reasons. Opting for a ‘slowmance’ helps LGBTQIA+ daters develop the emotional intimacy and solid foundation needed to navigate these complexities.”
Slowmance encourages exploring each other’s interests, values, life experiences, and aspirations. The concept encourages sharing moments of vulnerability and emotional support, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing oneself. This trend toward personal growth is in line with other movements observed in the dating world, such as “betterment burnout” and “consider dating.” These trends emphasize authenticity and the search for partners who are attentive to their mental well-being. Meg Gagnard, Marketing Manager France at Bumble, who analyzed these concepts, explains: “Singles are now prioritizing authenticity and self-improvement, rejecting society’s traditional expectations of age, perfection, and deadlines. They are opting to meet people who embrace their vulnerability and true nature.“.