The United States has witnessed a shift in household dynamics since the 1960s, when more women first entered the workforce. Since then, a dual-income household has become a common occurrence, with a 2025 chart from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that 49.6% of married couples have both spouses employed, while only 23.4% have a single income. There is nothing wrong with a household living on a single income as long as it is affordable for the household. After all, the key factor in deciding who should work to provide is based on maintaining financial stability. However, an offshoot of the single-income dynamic is rising in unmarried couples through a new trend on social media. These “Stay-at-Home Girlfriends” are bringing back some traditional ideas with high risks.

A “Stay-at-Home Girlfriend” (SAHG) is the modern, unmarried version of a housewife with a social media presence. Since 2023, SAHG videos on TikTok and Instagram have surged, showcasing a lifestyle consisting of young women performing household duties and emotionally supporting their boyfriends. Additionally, these videos are consistent across different creators, who film their pilates workouts, skincare regimens, and baked goods. SAHGs also display a soft, minimalistic version of femininity, as many follow the “clean girl” look through their fashion and makeup.

So what is influencing these women to turn to homemaking before they even walk down the aisle? The answer is rather simple: the economy. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States saw an economic recession, as many were laid off to reduce expenses and prioritize essential workers. Additionally, workers’ wages have not kept up with the increasing costs of living, including rent, groceries, and insurance. During these times when many feel that they can barely scrape by, it is not hard to see how somebody could find their living expenses being covered by another person as appealing. For many SAHGs, when asked why they adopted this lifestyle, they express that they do not dream of labor. Under the stress of economic uncertainty, these women simply removed themselves from the system by becoming house-girlfriends and instead focusing on homemaking and feminine leisure. On the surface, it can seem like a dream come true—a Cinderella-esque fantasy in real life. But giving a single person the power to provide also gives them the power to withhold.

When a married couple decides to divorce, it is not always an easy process—legally, financially, or emotionally. But the legal structure that the United States has for divorce does allow benefits such as alimony, child support, and the division of assets or property. If necessary, victims of domestic abuse can receive restraining orders to protect themselves. All of these processes and benefits can differ state-by-state, but they provide basic support to a split couple, especially if one of the members is less financially stable than the other. But all of this only applies to legally married couples. So what happens when a SAHG and her boyfriend split up?

When it comes to separation, SAHGs are in a tough spot. They rely on their boyfriends financially and function as homemakers, but they are not legally recognized as wives. If a SAHG and her boyfriend ever split up, she is not legally eligible for any aid or compensation. In the case of Bella Greenlee, she was to be a figure in the SAHG scene for three years, having started her relationship and content right before COVID. She claimed that her ex cheated on her, and the breakup forced her to move in with her dad because of the lack of financial resources she had. While she has been able to recover and focus on her own career, her experience has changed her views on relationship dynamics, seeing the SAHG dynamic as dangerous.

However, her success was possible because she at least had some support to transition from being a SAHG into an financially independent woman. If a SAHG has no money to leave, it can feel nearly impossible to leave the relationship, especially if it feels that they have no one to help with those first steps. Additionally, these feelings can increase if the boyfriend financially abuses them, restricting spending decisions for the SAHG and making her feel even more trapped in the relationship. Despite all these fears and uncertainties, if a SAHG feels unhappy in her role or unappreciated by her boyfriend, the best thing she can do for herself is leave. Even if she temporarily has to get help from family and friends, stability will only increase through her efforts of finding a job and gaining financial stability. Then will the SAHG finally be able to tend to herself and make her own home.

Written by Jordan Pierce, Photography: Christine Marinho, Design: Brooke Nugent, Social Media: Falyn Forrest, Styling: Shri Mulukuntla

The Stay-at-Home Girlfriend Paradox