If you’re a fan of her famous family, then we probably don’t need to tell you that Jana Duggar is single.
An unattached, 33-year-old woman is a virtually unheard-of phenomenon in the Duggars’ community — a culture in which women are taught from a young age that procreation is their primary reason for being.
When Jana’s twin brother, John David Duggar, married Abbie Burnett back in 2018, Jana became the only unmarried Duggar over the age of 20.
Her love life is obviously her own business, but given the extent to which the Duggars have shared every aspect of their lives with television viewers, it stands to reason that fans would be curious as to why Jana hasn’t started a family of her own.
And in recent years, some interesting theories have emerged as part of the effort to understand why a young woman who’s so thoroughly committed to her parents’ worldview in virtually every respect would stray in this one important way.
Take a look:
All The Single Ladies
If you took a photo of all the single Duggar women, it would look something like this. Jana has four sisters over the age of 18, and they’re all married moms.
Duggar Baby Boom
At any given time, it’s a safe bet that at least one Duggar woman is currently expecting.
Single and … Loving It?
Along with their religious practices, child-rearing is one of the two cornerstones of the Duggar way of life, and to many fans, it seems strange that a woman who seems to be so good with children would choose to hold off on having any of her own.
Out Standing In Her Field
So why is Jana still single? Well, it’s a question that only she can answer (and it’s possible she may not know, herself!), but that hasn’t prevented many, many fans from taking a crack at it.
Renewed Interest
Perhaps as a result of the recent Duggar baby boom, the matter has seen a resurgence of interest in recent months. Here are the most popular theories on the Duggar-obsessed corners of the internet.
1. Jana Is Gay
Obviously, this is one of the more controversial theories, but its proponents say there’s plenty of evidence to back it up.
Think of Laura
Primarily, they point to Jana’s relationship with her longtime BFF, Laura DeMasie.
Torn Apart?
These days, Laura lives in Georgia, but there was a time when she and Jana were so close that DeMasie took up residence in the Duggar compound.
Jim Bob to Blame?
Some fans think Jana’s father strongly encouraged Laura or to relocate, or even set her up with a career opportunity to get her away from Jana.
Ya Never Know
It sounds crazy, but you never know what Jim Bob is capable of. Which brings us to our second theory …
2. Jana Is Single By Decree of Jim Bob
We know a lot about the Duggars from their years as reality stars. But there’s also a lot of secrecy surrounding the family and the controversial Quiverfull movement to which they belong.
Down the Rabbit Hole
Quiverfull adherents believe that it’s every woman’s God-given duty to birth as many children as physically possible. That’s weird enough on its own — but it the belief system might get even weirder.
Nanny For Life?
Many aspects of the disgraced Reverend Bill Gothard’s teachings remain under lock and key, but some fans think he encourages large families to keep their eldest daughter childless so that she might assist with the raising of younger siblings.
Keeping It In Perspective
Obviously, that also sounds crazy, but the Duggars have admitted that they rely upon their children to help raise one another. And hey — it’s still not as bonkers as theory #3 which holds that …
3. Josh Is to Blame
Remember the Josh Duggar sex scandals? Sadly, they’re just impossible to forget, especially for the convicted predator’s victims — a list that includes Jana.
Unlikely…
Some fans believe that Jim Bob blames Jana for the fact that news of the scandal got out. And yes, they believe that Jim Bob punished her by decreeing that she shall never marry.
Yikes
Obviously, if this is true then it makes Jim Bob one of the most horrendous fathers on the planet. Thankfully, it’s almost certainly BS. Which brings us to the fourth and most plausible theory …
4. Jana Is Single By Choice
Actually, there are several theories within this theory: Jana hasn’t found Mr. Right; some guy broke her heart and she never got over it; she plans to remain single for life … but they all boil down to the same thing — Jana just hasn’t felt a strong urge to get hitched yet.
At The End of the Day, It’s Not That Weird …
It’s important to bear in mind that while being 33 and single might seem bizarre in the Duggar community, it’s incredibly normal in the rest of the world.
Under Pressure
No doubt Jana feels intense pressure — from both her family and her fans — to start a family. So perhaps she deserves our admiration for holding off and following her own path, rather than our constant speculation as to why she’s still single. Just a thought.