In recent years, there has been a noticeable trend in the increase of single men in society. This shift away from traditional family structures has led many to question: Who/what is responsible for the increase in single men?
Social Changes
One factor contributing to the rise in single men is the changing social landscape. With more emphasis on individualism and personal fulfillment, many men are choosing to delay or forgo marriage altogether. This shift in values has led to a higher number of men remaining single well into their adult years.
Economic Factors
Another key influencer in the increase of single men is economic instability. The rising cost of living, stagnant wages, and uncertain job market can make it difficult for men to commit to a long-term relationship or marriage. Financial concerns often play a significant role in the decision to remain single.
While about three-in-ten U.S. adults (31%) say they are single – that is, not married, living with a partner or in a committed romantic relationship – that share varies widely across demographic groups. The youngest and oldest Americans are the most likely to be single – 41% of those ages 18 to 29 and 36% of those 65 and older say they are single, compared with 23% of those 30 to 49 and 28% of those 50 to 64. The rise in single people has been driven by a three-decade decline in marriage. The share of adults ages 25 to 54 who are married dropped from two-thirds in 1990 to just over half in 2019, and the share of people who have never married grew from 17% to 33%.
And for some groups and in some places, living with parents is highly valued. I have been devoting the past several decades of my life to pushing back against such disparaging narratives of single life. In their place, I have been providing a more affirming account of what it means to be single, one that is grounded in research, not prejudice. Singles are also more focused on pets as partners or being able to travel frequently––both of which challenge the architecture of a traditional work environment, McGraw said. “Solos have more discretion over how and what they spend their money on. They’re more mobile in how they live and work and what they do for fun.” Younger and middle-aged men are the loneliest they’ve been in generations, and it’s probably going to get worse.
Changing Gender Roles
While men and women younger than 40 are roughly equally likely to not be looking for a relationship or dates (33% and 39%, respectively), men and women 40 and older are very different. A majority of older women (71%) say they aren’t looking to date right now, compared with 42% of men 40 and older. Majorities of singles in the 18-to-29 and 30-to-49 age groups are interested in a relationship or dates, but that’s not the case for their older counterparts. Half of those ages 50 to 64 and three-quarters of those 65 and older are not looking for either a relationship or dates at the moment.
The evolution of gender roles in society has also played a role in the increase of single men. As women become more empowered and independent, some men may struggle to adapt to these shifting dynamics. This can lead to difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships, ultimately resulting in a higher number of single men.
In conclusion, the increase in single men can be attributed to a combination of social changes, economic factors, and evolving gender roles. While the reasons may vary from individual to individual, it is clear that this trend is a reflection of the complex and ever-changing nature of modern society.
These singles are younger on average – single adults who have never been in a relationship have a median age of 24, compared with 35 among those who have been in a relationship. Still, 21% of never-married singles age 40 and older say they have never been in a relationship. A quarter of divorced, separated or widowed single people on the dating market are looking only for casual dates, higher than the share of never-married daters who are looking for the same (17%). However, these differences can primarily be explained by age and gender.
However, other experts warn that the study may further stigmatise the single population. “If it is used as a way of telling a misleading story about those poor single people and what is supposedly wrong with them,” says Bella DePaulo, a research psychologist at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Ultimately, we have an opportunity to revolutionize romantic relationships and establish new, healthier norms starting with the first date. It’s likely that some of these romances will be transformative and healing, disrupting generational trauma and establishing a fresh culture of admiration and validation. Every 10 years, the Journal of Marriage and Family publishes a collection of articles reviewing what we learned in the previous decade.
Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.
