Abstract
One of the fastest growing segments of the population, never-married Americans, is also one of the least well understood ... or appreciated. Viewed historically as self-centered, irresponsible sowers of wild oats, they were thought to be redeemed only by marriage, and that as soon as possible. Those few who came to be regarded as permanent “bridesmaids,” regardless of gender, were privately judged exceedingly unfortunate: life lived forever as a lonely bachelor or as an “old maid” spinster was regarded as a most pitiful outcome. To make matters even worse, many were secretly thought to be witless complicitors in their own hapless fate, being somehow personally responsible for this sorry turn of events.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Adams, M. Single blessedness: Observations on the single status in married society. New York: Basic Books, 1976.
Atlas, J., & Dreier, P. Tenants’ new clout. New York Times (October 23, 1980), A-27.
Barkas, J. L. Single in America. New York: Atheneum, 1980.
Brown, G. The new celibacy. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1980.
Carey, A. The sad flight of single women. Today (November 30, 1980),
Ciciola, G. The single’s scene as seen by a single. Today (February 25, 1979), 30.
Date Book Publications, Inc. Datebook. Pleasantville, N.Y.: Date Book Publications, 1981.
Doudna, C ,& McBride, F. Where are the men for the women at the top? In P. J. Stein (Ed.), Single life: Unmarried adults in social context. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981.
Elson, M. Parents take note: Cost to raise a child: $85,000. Chicago Tribune (October 3, 1980), 1, 18.
Feinsilber, M. ,& Mead, W. B. American averages: Amazing facts of everyday life. New York: Doubleday, 1980.
Freedman, J. L. Love and marriage = happiness (still). Public Opinion (November-December 1978), 49–53.
Gittleson, N. Co-ed dorms. Mccall’s (September 1980), 14.
Glick, P. C., & Spainer, G. B. Cohabitation in the United States. In P. J. Stein (Ed.), Single life: Unmarried adults in social context. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981.
Harris, L., et al. The Playboy report on American men. Chicago: Playboy Enterprises, 1979.
Konigsburg, D. If rent is killing you, and loneliness is a major problem, think about a commune. Next (November-December 1980), 56.
Larson, E. Look out, Redford: Our man is bursting onto singles scene. Wall Street Journal (July 29, 1980), 1.
Levine, J. Lust bust. Village Voice (July 30-August 5, 1980), 35.
Lowe, W. The single experience. The Graduate (1977), 86.
Macklin, E. D. Cohabiting college students. In P. J. Stein (Ed.), Single life: Unmarried adults in social context. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981.
Michener, J. A. The quality of American life and the statistical abstract. In N. Cousins (Ed.), Reflections of America: Commemorating the statistical abstract centennial. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1980.
Mitchelson, M. M. Made in heaven, settled in court. New York: Warner, Brooks, 1979.
National Opinion Research Center. Codebook for the general social survey, 1972–1978. Chicago: Author, 1979.
Norback, C. (Ed.). The complete book of American surveys. New York: New American Library, 1980.
Pearlin, L., & Johnson, J. S. Marital status, life-strains, and depression. In I. Hanson Frieze et al. ,(Eds.), New approaches to social problems. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1979.
Pierce, N. R. City census news isn’t all bad: Fewer people, but more households. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (September 8, 1980), 5.
Rainer, P. His. Mademoiselle (April 1980), 136.
Ramey, J. The advantages of being single. Forum (1979), unpaged.
Reinhold, R. Young people living alone: New trend in U.S. Chicago Tribune (April 3, 1977), 4. Rodgers, N. N. Computer dating. Unpublished MBA term paper, Drexel University, Philadelphia, 1981.
Roper Polling Organization. The 1980 Virginia Slims American Women’s Poll. Storrs, Conn.: Author, 1980.
Rosenblatt, R. The self as sybarite. Harper’s (March 1979), 14.
Rubin, L. B. Women of a certain age. New York: Harper Colophon, 1981.
Sachs, S. Singles club books dates for readers. Pittsburg Press (January 16, 1981), A-12.
Schaffer, K. F. Sex-role issues in mental health. Reading, Mass.: Addison-Wesley, 1980.
Schickel, R. Singled out: A civilized guide to sex and sensibility for the suddenly single man-or woman. New York: Viking Press, 1981.
Schwartz, P., in Houck, C. Women in the social sciences. Cosmopolitan (January, 1981), 203.
Shapiro, J. How to be happy-alone-in the world’s most romantic city. Mademoiselle (April 1980), 109.
Shocket, K. Why I’ll never get used to blind dates. Ladies’ Home Journal (February 7, 1980), 10.
Shostak, A. B. Abortion as fatherhood lost: Problems and reforms. The Family Coordinator (October 1979), 569–574.
Shostak, A. B. Tomorrow’s family reforms: Marriage course, marriage test, incorporated families, and sex selection mandate. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy ,1981 (October) 521–526.
Staples, R. Black singles in America. In P. J. Stein (Ed.), Single life: Unmarried adults in social context. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981.
Stein, P. J. (Ed.), Single life: Unmarried adults in social context. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981. (a)
Stein, P. J. Understanding single adulthood. In P. J. Stein (Ed.), Single life: Unmarried adults in social context. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981. (b)
Tarshis, B. The “average American” book. New York: Mentor, 1981.
Thorton, A. & Freedman, D. Changing attitudes on singlehood. Family Planning Perspective ,1982 (November-December), 14(6) ,297– 303.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. Current population reports. Washington, D.C. U.S. Government Printing Office, February, 1980, Table E-l.
Viviano, F. The new lost generation. Working Papers (September-October 1980), 44.
Weiss, R. S. The study of loneliness. In P. J. Stein (Ed.), Single life: Unmarried adults in social context. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1981.
West, R. Looking for love in so many places. New York (December 28-January 4, 1982), 24.
Wolfe, L. The good news. New York (December 28-January 4, 1982), 35.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1987 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Shostak, A.B. (1987). Singlehood. In: Sussman, M.B., Steinmetz, S.K. (eds) Handbook of Marriage and the Family. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7151-3_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7151-3_13
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-7153-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-7151-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive