MySingleSpace.org

Single adults living alone are becoming a significant proportion of the population in the United States. Although your particular group of friends may be partnered, 27% of households in 2006 consist of persons living alone (approximately 12% divorced, 6% not yet or never married).  These percentages vary considerably, depending on where you live.  In some cities (and apartment complexes), the majority of adults are single.

In addition, the average age for marriage for both men and women has been steadily increasing. This fact together with the significant divorce rates has resulted in the percentage of unmarried men and women in the 40-44 year old age bracket more than doubling between 1970 and 2002. Increased longevity also means there are more widows and widowers, who are single and living alone. All of these statistics add up to the reality, quoted recently in the New York Times, that “on the average, Americans now spend half their adult lives outside marriage.”

But how does that help me feel less alone and different, if all my friends are partnered? Read on in “Am I the Only One?” if you want to see how cultural images of singleness can impact how you think about yourself, and what you can do about it.

If you want to look at other Resources and Links that address the topic Stigma and Stereotypes, click here.