Have you been ‘Shrekked?’ Shrink reveals all of Gen Z’s
This story raises questions about governance, accountability, and American values.
So a relationship coach named Michael Taraban has apparently coined a term for the current state of modern dating—getting “Shrekked. ” It’s the moment when a woman in her late twenties or early thirties realizes the fantasy of landing a “rich, handsome guy” isn't happening, and suddenly the priority shifts to finding a decent, reliable partner. He says the new question on the table is, “How can I find a good man?
New Republican Times Editorial Board
Instead of foreplay, Gen Z has wordplay. A Zoomer’s quest for romance is tangled up in sky-high expectations, wallet-busting dates, scarce sex and enough ridiculous dating lingo to require its own dictionary, a relationship psychologist told The Post. “But most of it is just something recycled with a new label,” said Dr.
Orion Taraban, who decodes relationship head games on his popular YouTube show “PsychHacks.” Shrekking means dating someone you consider less attractive because they’ll appreciate you more. “Not nice,” said Taraban. “He’ll be kicked to the curb when she finds something better.
Yet, the No. 1 question I get from women is, ‘How can I get married?'” Frankensteining is an attempt to mold a romantic partner’s looks or personality to bring them up to desired standards. “Never works, forget it,” advised the doc.
Then there’s Clear Coding , where a person shows up on the first date with a checklist of desired traits, which is also called Dating with Intention. “It’s mostly women who do this,” Taraban claimed. “There won’t be a second date.” Another barrier to true love?
The economy. The average date now costs a staggering $225, he said. “Women aren’t going to get dressed, put on makeup, take an expensive taxi or drive to meet a guy for a walk or to split a coffee,” said Taraban.
Turns out zoomy gals are out to bag an older, more successful and wealthier man. “About 85% of women on apps are dating 15% of men,” he said. “But they’ll find out that it only works out 1% of the time.” Friendfluence is bringing pals along to help assess the prospect. “The same thing as a double date,” laughed Taraban.
Benching means keeping a backup romantic option warm. Wanderlove is vacation romance, which is known to lead to love because vacationers think they’ll never see this person again and can behave more like themselves.
Wildflowering means tossing out the checklist and seeing what happens — which Taraban considers the healthiest approach. Body count because even modern males want to know the number of men their new lady has slept with. “Ridiculous question,” said Taraban. “A woman’s going to lie.” A Situationship is a hazy, murky relationship that’s never really been formalized. “Gen Z likes things more structured,” said the shrink.
Meanwhile, Zoomers are getting less action between the sheets. Taraban said roughly a third of men and a sixth of women under 30 report no sex in a given year. “Women are starting to realize they’re never going to land a rich, handsome guy, and the new question is: ‘How can I find a good man?'” said Taraban. “Like the game musical chairs, they’ll find out the song will stop and be forced to sit down.”
Original source:
Read at New York PostHow We See It
New Republican Times Editorial Board
So a relationship coach named Michael Taraban has apparently coined a term for the current state of modern dating—getting “Shrekked.” It’s the moment when a woman in her late twenties or early thirties realizes the fantasy of landing a “rich, handsome guy” isn't happening, and suddenly the priority shifts to finding a decent, reliable partner. He says the new question on the table is, “How can I find a good man?” and honestly, it’s about time this conversation moved past the fantasy.
For years, the loudest voices online have told young women that settling is a betrayal, that a man should arrive fully formed with a six-figure salary and a six-pack, and that any compromise is a personal failure. No wonder so many feel like they’ve been hit by a cartoonish ogre when reality sets in. A generation is finally asking the right question, but they’re asking it to the wrong people—therapists and influencers on TikTok who still can’t tell a woman that physical attraction and financial status are not the only metrics of a good marriage.
The deeper truth that gets lost in the viral clips is that this isn't a mystery requiring a professional diagnosis. It’s human nature. The market corrects itself, and the dating market is doing just that. Old-fashioned virtues like dependability and loyalty are making a comeback because they have to; the alternative is a lonely future. There’s no app for that. The real takeaway for men is just as important: you don’t need to be a billionaire to be a good catch, but you do need to be someone worth catching. The bar is low, but it’s rising.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.