Selfish. She wants a pet child.
Raising a child is a huge undertaking. It really does take two adults, one providing immediate care with the other earning an income (or eliciting food/clothing/shelter from the Earth directly); one trying to do this alone will fail at both, having to earn twice as much to hire others to provide the immediate care AND obtain food/clothing/shelter ... and if she can’t so much as attract a mate, I have to question whether she can attract the unusually high income needed to provide the productivity of two.
From a purely genetic standpoint, it’s pretty weird. The male (there IS a male involved) gets to propagate with absolutely no effort beyond, er, donating a sample. (Fair disclosure: I didn’t read the whole article so don’t know how the sperm was acquired; I’ll assume he was completely anonymous so she wouldn’t have to deal with him at all.) Humans were designed/evolved as largely monogamous mates for a reason, while increasing “fatherless families” distorts that successful model.
How to avoid that situation? Goes for both genders:
Young adults MUST soon learn that life isn’t endless. You’re gonna age, decline, and die - sooner than you think. This notion of spending your 20s discovering yourself is BS; that time is your prime opportunity to get the best mate you can, get the most frequent & best sex you can (no heartache from breakups, no terrors of “unexpected” pregnancy), and have the most energy to care for offspring ... and I say this having married at 35. Take a realistic look at your personal axioms, philosophies, pleasures, and goals - and find someone who likewise shares them and wants to get on with developing a life TOGETHER. Wait too long and you’re more trying to merge two different people set in their ways; bond early, grow as one. Maybe take a few (few!) years to enjoy just each other and get positioned, but get on with kids soon so you’ll have the time & energy to raise them and still have time to enjoy life after ... the author, procreating at 40, faces having that kid still needing support when she’s 60.
Marry around 25. Don’t pretend you don’t want a companion & copulation until an ill-defined & ill-advised “later”. Your life is limited. Your options are limited & dwindling.
As for the mantra “be yourself”? That’s great if your self is someone worth being - and loving. If that’s not working (i.e.: attracting suitors/maidens), then seriously reconsider who you are and where you’re going - and adjust accordingly. Look at what you like to do, and whether others want to share it. Get fit. Groom. Work hard. Work smart. Earn money. Create. Help. Volunteer. You know the mantras about “other/many fish in the sea”? become the one others _want_ to catch.
And finally, don’t play mind games. Don’t hint. Don’t play hard to get. Pay attention. Many people DO receive advances, but either don’t get them, don’t believe them, or brush them off - then wonder why nobody’s interested. My wife knew that whoever wanted her would have to make it really blatantly obvious - and I did (including 5-hour drives to see her in another country). Yes, the man is “supposed to” pursue, but he’s likely as clueless as you - so let him know you’re interested, let him know what your goal is (yes: marriage), make it worth his while (not “hooking up”, but by being a partner).
Enter college knowing that’s your best chance to review the highest density of highest-quality spousal candidates.
Don’t appear disinterested in marriage.
Career is to facilitate marriage; don’t delay the latter for the former.
Be desirable. Yes, you can - get fit, don’t look strange.
Target age is 25. The longer you wait, the fewer your prospects.
And DON’T procreate without a permanent partner.
The problem is most people are told the opposite.
In my early 20’s, I was told to “work on the career now, get a wife later”. I did, and ended up realizing I didn’t want the perks of the career without the family.
I married my bride, have two great kids, but know that I am not in a position to achieve what I originally wanted from my career. I can’t and be a good father.
Enter college knowing that’s your best chance to review the highest density of highest-quality spousal candidates.
Not anymore