Romania has long had an enduring obsession with education, a topic we previously explored in depth. For generations, both rural and urban families have instilled in their children – particularly daughters – the idea that success is built upon academic achievement and professional stability. While this push for education has led to impressive career trajectories for many women, it has also given rise to a distinct social phenomenon: the “corporate girl.”
This term describes a particular demographic of millennial and Gen Z women who have dedicated their youth to academic and professional “excellence”, often at the expense of personal relationships, only to find themselves in their early-to-mid 30s facing an unexpected crisis. They begin to realize that despite their impressive resumes and financial independence, they have little to no romantic experience, no clear path toward starting a family, and growing anxieties about their future. In essence, they were sold the dream of empowerment through careerism, only to discover that personal fulfillment is more complex than professional success alone.
A Romanian Feminist Paradox: Stronger, Yet Different from the West
In many ways, feminism in Romania has taken a different trajectory than in the United States and Western Europe. While American feminism has become deeply ideological, often focusing on systemic grievances, social justice, and gender theory, Romanian feminism attempts to remain primarily practical. Women in Romania are expected to be highly educated and ambitious, but there is still an implicit expectation of femininity, family values, and traditional roles. Rather than outright rejecting marriage and motherhood, Romanian women were encouraged to prioritize career-building first, under the assumption that family and relationships could easily follow later.
This presents a paradox: Romanian women, in some respects, have adopted feminist ideals more effectively than their Western counterparts. They are more likely to pursue degrees in STEM and business, they dominate many professional fields (e.g. accounting, and to some extent – law), and they often command significant economic independence. However, unlike the American model, where feminism has increasingly promoted individualism at the cost of traditional family structures, Romanian women were never explicitly told to reject relationships. Instead, they were subtly guided into delaying them – sometimes indefinitely.
Another noticeable trend among these career-driven women is their spending habits. With disposable incomes and fewer immediate financial responsibilities such as children or a mortgage, many corporate women prioritize travel and leisure experiences over long-term financial security. Anecdotally, savings rates within this segment appear to be lower, though there is little hard statistical data available – because, according to the European Union, studying such a trend would be deemed “sexist,” as acknowledging certain realities is obviously controversial in today’s discourse. Sigh.
Instead of investing in assets or long-term stability, much of their income is funneled into experiences, high-end consumer goods, and lifestyle luxuries that offer immediate gratification. This creates another layer of irony: while these women have successfully reached financial independence, they may still face future economic vulnerabilities due to a lack of wealth-building strategies. Their male counterparts, on the other hand, tend to exhibit higher savings rates and more traditional investment behaviors, further complicating gender dynamics when it comes to long-term financial planning and stability.
The Rural-Urban Divide: A Shared Crisis
Interestingly, this is not just an urban phenomenon. Many young women from Romania’s countryside were given the same message: study hard, get out of the village, build a life in the city. But while their urban peers had exposure to more liberal social norms, rural women who made this transition often find themselves doubly isolated: disconnected from the traditional expectations of their hometowns yet unable to fully integrate into the more cosmopolitan dating landscape of Bucharest, Cluj, or even Timișoara.
By the time these women reach their 30s, they face the reality that their male counterparts, whether from urban or rural backgrounds, did not receive the same life script. While men were encouraged to work hard, they were never told to put relationships on hold indefinitely. As a result, the dating pool for highly educated career women narrows significantly, leading to dissatisfaction and a sense of alienation.
A Firsthand Perspective: The Corporate Reality
Having naturally befriended several other established executives in Romania, generally in companies exceeding $100 million in annual turnover, I have witnessed this phenomenon firsthand. In my own businesses, I have hired hundreds of Romanians from diverse backgrounds and social statuses.
Recently, I had a conversation with a close friend who serves as the CMO of a major technology firm in Romania. He shared an interesting insight: among the dozens of women working in his marketing department, not a single one was in a long-term relationship, let alone had children. Yet, when unofficially surveyed, they overwhelmingly expressed a strong desire for a family. The average age in this group was in the mid-30s – a striking confirmation of the delayed personal fulfillment many career-driven Romanian women face.
Where Do We Go From Here?
This phenomenon raises larger questions about the long-term impact of Romania’s education-centric culture. Have we overcorrected? Have we placed too much emphasis on professional success without considering the importance of human relationships and emotional fulfillment? The conversation around feminism in Romania is not the same as in the West, but it has its own unique pitfalls – ones that deserve further discussion.