As the oldest serving park ranger in the United States, Betty Reid Soskin has been making headlines recently with an incendiary viral clip of sorts. In it, she advised her younger self to avoid getting married. At 103 years old, Soskin is a storyteller and her wisdom fills the room with electricity. She reinforces the idea that there can be fulfillment outside of a spousal connection.
That video, the first of a series that was presented as an “independent documentary,” struck a chord. Hundreds of comments flooded in, with numerous women expressing agreement with Soskin’s perspective. “I think that I could have done all the things that I have done without a man,” she stated, underscoring her belief in the strength and independence of single women.
Soskin’s sentiment is echoed by a new study conducted by the Pew Research Center. It proved that almost 50 percent of U.S. women feel that marriage is no longer an essential part of a rewarding life. This change in mindset complements recommendations from the Aspen Economic Strategy Group. Based on U.S. census block data, their estimates now suggest that almost 54% of women 18-40 are single.
Beyond that, the last two decades have seen significant downward shifts in interest in serious romantic relationships among unmarried women. A 2022 Pew survey found just 34% of single women were on the market for relationships. That’s a drop from 38% just four years ago, in 2019. That points to a changing attitude among women about their individual fulfillment and relationship expectations.
Anne Kai, a commentator on the topic, remarked on this cultural shift, stating, “I don’t think we give enough credit to single women who love being single because there’s still the whole childless cat lady troupe out there.” Kai added, “You can enjoy life alone, you don’t need somebody to bear witness to your joy to make it exist.” Her unguarded observations point to a deeper cultural enlightenment and acceptance of lifestyle choices.
Recently, the Pew Research Center and the Aspen Economic Strategy Group revealed a critical trend in their research. Society has changed in that self-fulfillment of women is taken higher than traditional duty to husband and home. These societal norms change day by day. Today, thousands of women are finding the courage to go out on their own and create the lives they want to lead.
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