Changing lifestyles
Our society is changing. Nowadays fewer people are getting married and more are getting divorced. There are now 14.2 million singletons in the UK. It is predicted that single people will make up 38% of households by 2026. And often it is through choice. Once upon a time single people were often stigmatised, but now single people are fighting back and showing they are proud to be single.

Single ring
So proud, that a ring for single people designed by a company in Sweden has become a huge hit in the UK. The bright turquoise and silver ring has proved to be most popular in London, Brighton, Manchester and Birmingham. According to Singelringen’s web site, the ring ‘shows your marital status is a conscious choice for the time being’.

Sole occupancy
However, there has been a recent attack on people living on their own. Research by University College London suggests that ‘the rise in younger, wealthier one-person households is having an increasingly serious impact on the environment’. It claims they produce more rubbish, consume more energy and use more space. Manote, 27, a singleton from Nottingham, argues that family life can be more damaging to the environment – ‘having a relationship, having a child, doing the school run, owning a car, building a big house or buying birthday presents … will make more waste’.

Discrimination
In addition, although it has become more acceptable, single people still feel the effect of discrimination and believe they live in a couplist society. Holidays are often more expensive if you travel alone, tax burdens are higher and because they have no commitments, at work singletons are expected to work longer hours, travel more and attend more out-of-hours social functions.

It’s fun to be single
To some single people, relationships mean compromise. Being single means you have only yourself to worry about and you are free to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. They often lead busy social lives: playing sport, attending evening classes, eating out and clubbing with friends. Emma, 25, from Norwich says, ‘You’re the boss – you don’t have to answer to anyone. I love it – I’ve made loads of friends and I’m out every night.’

Being single is obviously lots of fun!

Connie
November 2006

there are interesting facts and trends about being single! — April

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