1. Singlehood & Family Diversity in the U.S.

2. What we know about singles
Never married, ages 40-49
12% women & 14% men
Kunz, Think Marriages and Families
1st marriage
28.2 men
26.1 women
2010 US. Census
highest median age
Size of singles (never been married)
has doubled 1972
% singles
has increased with educational levels

3. Less need for marriage for both men & women

4. Types of singles

5. Voluntary Temporary Singles
interested in marriage, but not a high priority
students
career people

6. Voluntary Stable Singles
Not interested in marriage
Catholic nuns & priests
Single parents
Represent 15.4% of all families
2010 US census
12.8 million (9.9 million are single mothers)

7. Involuntary temporary singles
Want to be married

8. Involuntary stable singles
Wanted to be married but did not
Marriage laws prohibit

9. Benefits of Being Single
Privacy, few constraints, independence
Varied sexual experiences; cohabitation
Exciting, changing lifestyle
Meeting new friends w/ different interests
Economic autonomy
Freedom of responsibility to care for spouse (and children)
Basic need for independence

10. The Cost of Being a Single Man
Single men have the most well-being problems.
Higher mortality
Higher Alcoholism
Higher suicide rates
More mental health problems.

11. The Cost of Being a Single Woman
Single women are more likely to be raped, mugged, & burglarized.

12. Benefits of Being Married
Companionship
Faithful sexual partner
Dependability, love
Sharing mutual interests
Pooling economic resources
Social approval for “settling down”
Becoming a part of something larger than self
Source: Stein, 9181; Carter & Sokol, 1993 in Benokraitis 2002

13. Cohabitation Substitute for marriage Step toward marriage
Highest rate of marriage after 5-7 years
Trial Marriage
Highest rate of split after 5-7 years
Coresidential dating

14. Other Variations Grandparent Families Stepfamilies
4.4 million (6% of all children)
2000 Census
Stepfamilies
Men & Women age 40-49
Married once
Men 67%
Women 65%
Married twice
Men 16%
Women 19%
Married 3 x
Men 3%
Women 4%

15. Families with Same-Sex Parents
Heads of household of 754,000 households in the US
2010 Census
American Academy of Pediatrics supports the right of gays and lesbians to adopt their partners’ children
After 2 decades of studies

16. Similarities
Whatever their sexual orientation, people expect family life to provide them with a measure of emotional support, love, security, and companionship.
Women more likely to value equality
Source: Lauer and Lauer, Marriage and the Family, the Quest for Intimacy

17. Differences Heterosexual couples Homosexual couples
Argue more about politics and social issues
Homosexual couples
Argue more about distrust or lying
More egalitarian in sharing household tasks
Gay men less monogamous than married heterosexual men
Most psychological intimacy with lesbian couples
Source: Lauer and Lauer, Marriage and the Family, the Quest for Intimacy