Women without marriages
For the first time in American history, more women are living without a spouse than living with one. That’s what this NY Times article says, anyway.
While some people may think this shows just how morally inept Americans have become, I think it shows a certain initiative people are taking in their lives. For a long time, people have been told that marriage is the be-all end-all of life. Either you’re living (i.e., married with children) or you’re an irresponsible bum and/or adventure-seeker (past 35 and single).
According to researcher William Frey:
[this is] a clear tipping point, reflecting the culmination of post-1960 trends associated with greater independence and more flexible lifestyles for women.
So is this “trend” here to stay? I’m not really sure about that one, but I do know that many of my college classmates (the women-folk, anyhow) aren’t tied down to a single guy (or girl, if we’re going to take it that far). Unlike me, who is the anomaly in this equation, many of my friends aren’t even interested in finding a guy to go steady with. They want to focus on their career, travel around the world, and then settle down to get married.
I see nothing wrong with that sentiment. People who want to get married and have kids will get married and have kids. People who don’t want to, won’t. Of course, life isn’t always that simple, is it?
Posted on January 16th, 2007 by Joy
Filed under: Marriage, Relationships
It’s because women are desperately trying to escape from their inevitable destinies…to take care of the children from the kitchen where they belong.
Jokes aside, I seriously hope that this “trend” slows down a bit. I love to have fun with girls without having to worry about hurting their oh-so-fragile mentalities, but sometimes it’s nice to know that there’s a certainty in a relationship.
I think anomalies like yourself make everyone feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. It’s a good feeling. The rest are there to have fun.
nya.
Mmm… yes, but I do think it’s better to not force yourself into a relationship because that’s what you think “should” happen.
Hi there! Found you from MyBlogLog and this post caught my eye. I was a single mom for 10 years and really had -0- desire to get married again. I did get married just ’cause the man of my dreams finally dropped in my lap. But to be honest, I would have been fine without marriage. I already had my kids.
It’s interesting seeing this statistic. I have to say though, I’m not surprised.
Great site! Hope you don’t mind if I drop in from time to time.
Monica — It would be great if you dropped in from time to time. That would be absolutely amazing, actually. And it’s great that, even though you felt that you didn’t need to get married, you still found the main of your dreams anyway.
It will be interesting to see if this trend does continue… the wedding industry will have to watch out. My guy friends haven’t reported this happening though
at least not yet.
I remember before I met my husband back in 1999 I, unlike many women, was perfectly happy to remain a singleton unless I met Mr Right. Meanwhile, I watched many women after the first three months of dating asking men the dreaded question “so, where do you see this relationship going?” no doubt hearing wedding bells and biological clock. The men, of course, had disappeared into the dust, while the women set about their search again…
Britgirl — I hope your women friends found a good guy despite scaring off all of the other ones.