This works well especially online where people are less inhibited, but if you pay attention to body language and micro-expressions, it works in real life, too.

I have noticed that my being a single, childfree woman nearly sends some men into a panic. And why is that, since it's so illogical and irrational? Because I'm out of (their) control. I'm out of any man's control, and since they're transactional scrotes, they know they don't have any leverage.

I don't need their money; I have and make my own. I'm older, and for younger women who are just starting out, make SURE you are financially self-sufficient before you marry. I know that's not easy in college and just starting out; make sure you have cab fare home or money/connections to get yourself out of any dicey situation.

I don't have any kids; I'm childfree by choice, not childless. I make it clear I do not want anyone else's kids, either. For younger women, I'd say don't let your biological clock and hormones get in the way of hard, cold pragmatism. Not always easy.

I have hobbies and interests which I pursue regularly. I'm making a small space in my life for a man, but there's no void, no empty space. I am complete in myself. I am one in myself.

I also have family and friends, which I won't be isolated from. Any man who would want to be with me would have to move to my state, sort out his own house, his own employment. I'm settled and rooted here. For those less settled and rooted, I'd advise strongly against ever moving in with any man and just living together. It's too casual, too impermanent, and an offer of marriage, and going through with it, lets you know he values you enough to make things legal. There are significant legal advantages to marriage; even then, always keep vetting, keep your money separate (or at least his/hers/ours) and be able to leave if ever necessary.

I don't say so out loud, but I expect them to impress me, pursue me, woo me. They don't make any effort, I simply wander off and just keep doing my own thing. Keeping my interest requires ongoing effort, since I already have a life, hobbies, interests, family, friends.

I do make it clear that I'd expect to live apart and keep finances separate at this stage of my life, having already been married twice for about half my life. This means I won't be doing any extra cooking, cleaning, or emotional labor for someone else. I honestly have never understood how or why any woman gets roped into buying gifts for a man's family, or remembering other people's birthdays. That simply has never computed. That pull to do more and more and more is insidious, and the only thing I can say is, keep being aware and do whatever you need to ensure that housework gets done equitably.

But yeah... get a load of people's reactions when they see just how independent you are. They don't have leverage to manipulate or pin you down. You're inconvenient. You're not open to being exploited, and you make it clear you need your own space, your own money, your own time to explore your interests. See how much real interest there is then. It is an excellent way to weed transactional scrotes way out, and quickly, almost instantanously.