New Books in Sociology

Sabrina Strings, "The End of Love: Racism, Sexism, and the Death of Romance" (Beacon Press, 2024)

Nov 27, 2024

Sabrina Strings, a sociologist and author of "The End of Love: Racism, Sexism, and the Death of Romance," dives deep into the state of modern relationships. She argues that the rise of 'situationships' stems from historical sexism and racism. Strings critiques how men are redefining attraction through a lens of whiteness, impacting Black women particularly. She discusses the evolution of masculinity, tracing the shift from playboys to 'fuckboys,' and emphasizes the need for a broader understanding of love that challenges traditional norms.

37:13

Episode guests

Sabrina Strings

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The decline of romantic relationships, especially among marginalized groups, highlights the need to redefine love and connection beyond traditional ideals.

The rise of the 'fuckboy' archetype illustrates how societal norms foster superficial relationships that undermine genuine emotional fulfillment for women.

Deep dives

The End of Romantic Love

The decline of romantic relationships is particularly evident in the United States, where marriage rates have plummeted from 76% in 1970 to just 31% in 2022. This significant shift indicates a broader trend where individuals, especially Black women, are either choosing not to pursue romantic partnerships or are struggling to find them. The advent of app-based dating has exacerbated these issues, leading many to feel disillusioned with dating dynamics. Interestingly, this decline in romantic love is viewed positively in the discussion, as it may offer the opportunity to redefine what love means and what kind of connections people truly need.

Intro

2min

Redefining Romance: A Feminist Perspective

11min

Historical and Cultural Implications of the Term 'Gold Digger'

5min

Evolving Dynamics: Black Marriage and Media Influence

8min

The Evolution of Masculinity: From Playboy to Fuckboy

5min

Exploring the Intersections of Masculinity, Femininity, and Relationships

3min

More men than ever are refusing loving partnerships and commitment, and instead seeking out “situationships.” When these men deign to articulate what they are looking for in a steady partner, they’ll often rely on superficial norms of attractiveness rooted in whiteness and anti-Blackness.

Connecting the past to the present, in The End of Love: Racism, Sexism, and the Death of Romance (Beacon Press, 2024) sociologist Dr. Sabrina Strings argues that following the Civil Rights movement and the integration of women during the Second Wave Feminist movement, men aimed to hold on to their power by withholding love and commitment, a basic tenet of white supremacy and male domination, that served to manipulate all women. From pornography to hip hop, women—especially Black and “insufficiently white” women—were presented as gold diggers, props for masturbation, and side-pieces.

Using historical research, personal stories, and critical analysis, Dr. Strings argues that the result is fuccboism, the latest incarnation of toxic masculinity. This work shows that men are not innately “toxic.” Nor do they hate love, commitment, or sex. Instead, men across race have been working a new code to effectively deny loving partnerships to women who are not pliant, slim, and white as a new mode of male domination.

This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.

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