You know how when we preface a statement with “everybody”, it really ends up applying to maybe two or three people? This is different. EVERYBODY is single. #WellActually, more than half of the U.S. adult population is #unchose. That’s right. We are the majority, finally! Well, sort of. Economist Edward Yardeni recently released a report that detailed that singles are taking over. And though that displays a shift in society, there are other meanings lying beneath the surface.
On one end, I assume this is good. “Never-married young singles are less likely to have children and previously married older ones, many of whom have adult children, are unlikely to have young kids.” No kids is a good thing, right? This means more money for flourishing, surviving, and whatever else we may please. But this could also imply that we aren’t getting married anymore or more marriages are failing. I mean, this week, Wiz and Amber broke our hearts up. Are we no longer interested in buying the cow because there’s milk at every grocery and convenience store? And because we aren’t buying the cow, are we getting tired of drinking the milk? Especially when we could get almond milk or soy? The option to settle down is no longer necessary as we (assumingly) are becoming more cognizant of having that family without legal obligation. The ring might no longer mean a thing.
Yardeni also stated something along the lines of “singles, particularly younger ones, are more likely to rent than to own their dwellings.” This could also be indicative of our lack of settling down. Apartments allow us to pack up and drift on a whim, if necessary. Or, we envision mortgages with the promises of a picket fence and nuclear family. That could be it, right?
The percentage of adult Americans who have never married has risen to 30.4 percent from 22.1 percent in 1976, while the proportion that are divorced, separated or widowed increased to 19.8 percent from 15.3 percent, according to the economist.
So, we are getting comfortable with success and family not being dependent on legal partnership. And if we do venture down that avenue, we are now more comfortable to free ourselves from damning and confining relationships. Divorce is an option and isn’t as taboo as it once was. People change. #Itiswhatitis.
What do you make of this? Is there a bigger issue at stake?
Credits: Amanda Sandlin