By The Way...

Several factors are driving the statistical shift. At one end of the age spectrum, women are marrying later or living with unmarried partners more often and for longer periods. At the other end, women are living longer as widows and, after a divorce, are more likely than men to delay remarriage, sometimes delighting in their newfound freedom.

In addition, marriage rates among black women remain low. Only about 30 percent of black women are living with a spouse, according to the Census Bureau, compared with about 49 percent of Hispanic women, 55 percent of non-Hispanic white women and more than 60 percent of Asian women.

In a relatively small number of cases, the living arrangement is temporary, because the husbands are working out of town, are in the military or are institutionalized. But while most women eventually marry, the larger trend is unmistakable.

Not answered in the question are how many adult men are living alone, as a percentage of the population (and how many of them, say, live in their parents' basement).

I'm certainly happy to be living with a spouse (and I hope my spouse is as well), but I don't particularly see this situation as worrisome. I think it's good thing that women generally have less pressure to marry, because among other things it keeps them from having to make choices that may ultimately not be good for them. And living alone doesn't mean one is lonely; if one has a good network of friends and colleagues then one can be pretty happy. That's how I felt when I was single, at least. 

Thoughts?

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• #1 Comment from monponsett 
  1/17/07 10:58 PM | Permalink

  I'll be pretty surprised if my husband doesn't have a Stacey-related heart attack long before I even get THAT old.