I think it's an age old problem that has been passed down through the years. If a man sees a woman who is confident enough to know what she wants, it is a threat. Men say they hate a whiny, weak female, yet they are gravitated toward them. I've chased many men away because I speak my mind. We females who are free and independent have to make up our minds that "SINGLE" is a good thing if it means compromising who we are just to get a man. That is where a woman finds out where she really stands with herself. True independence does not fear being alone.
You don't have to always like it, but it is better than settling for less. There aren't that many guys out there who really want an independent woman. Independence means freedom and "letting go". Both sexes have way too many expectations, or rather, the wrong expectations. The problems start when he/she becomes disappointed when they don't get what they want out of a relationship.
When two people meet and they should be happy that they have each other, and not get so hung up on what he/she can do for me. Love needs to be reciprocal. Men and women alike "fall in love" because of what they expect to get out of it, not because of what they want to "give" to the other person, and then are disappointed when that person does not meet with all their expectations. If a person cannot learn to "live alone" first and find contentment with that, then you'll never find it with someone. Personally, I have learned that I like myself, I like my independence, and if that means "SINGLE", then so be it. I am sure that if their is someone out there for me to love then that is what I will do - "LOVE HIM". If he tries to change me, then he doesn't LOVE me, he's in love with an image he has created in his mind and not the woman that stands before him. Women make the same mistake.
They create an image of what they want in a man, and then work their butts off trying to change him. If I cannot accept you for who you are, and you cannot accept me for who I am then, "What is the point"? Walk away before you make each other miserable. Men and women are not all that different, we just have different roles to fulfill in a relationship, it is just a question of being sure that we are both being real with one another so we know things will last.