ABSTRACT
The media have done their part to make sure society continues to abide by the belief that without a romantic male counterpart a heterosexual woman is incomplete. Books such as Helen Fielding’s (1996) Bridget Jones’ Diary and television shows such as Sex and the City (1998-2004) portray single heterosexual women as constantly searching for a romantic other to fulfill them. The number of self-help books designed to aid single women in finding their perfect mate abound (Amador & Kiersky, 1999; Bawden, 2000; Broder & Claflin, 1990; Cabot, 1987; DeAngelis, 1997; Doyle, 2001; Fein & Schneider, 1996a, 1996b). The various forms of media have perpetuated the heterosexual imaginary-the idea that to be fulfilled in life, one must be involved in an opposite-sexed romantic relationship.
