Maybe some of those who are figured into the total population are young and are not old enough to be considered single or married.

. I guess that makes all men johns?

gladly

but really, there are a few women out there who truly marry for love rather than for the goodies marriage brings them.

I just do not know too many myself.

He did say MOST women not all women.

And yes MOST men are johns.

for pointing out that all women are whores, even the married ones. I guess that makes all men johns?

The fact that this would even come up suggests that, for all their complaining, a lot of women are getting, or at least on some level hoping to get, practical i.e. monetary benefits from their relationships.

Dirty secret of most marriages-- most women are whoring. Regardless of whether they have fooled themselves into believing otherwise.

True love-based marriages are rare.

Of course life is easier alone in many ways, it actually fascinates me that anyone would consider this an issue. I can guarantee you no man in modern western society gets involved with a woman to make his life easier (unless he is insane). The ONLY reason to be involved with another person is because there is an emotional benefit to the social and sexual interaction. The fact that this would even come up suggests that, for all their complaining, a lot of women are getting, or at least on some level hoping to get, practical i.e. monetary benefits from their relationships. Every man KNOWS a relationship is going to cost him big time one way or the other and wants it anyway. I'd be interested to know what percentage of women this does or would apply to.

"single and fabulous"

After a lifetime of dodging a barrage of pro-marriage, pro-couple propaganda, I've managed to evade matrimony most of my life except for a brief 7 year period (not so brief, actually, while in the midst of it) in my late teens early twenties. As I get older, more used to my individual state, I can't understand why I'm enjoying my life so much. According to standard American lore, I should be a neurotic, gin-swilling, lonely, man-crazy divorcee. But...nope. I come and go without 'checking in', I spend my money on what I deem important without getting expenses 'vetted', and although I have to go through many of life's unpleasant petty experiences alone, I also am not required to accompany anyone else through theirs. Marriage as a woman, in my experience, was an extension of my childhood - because I married so young. After a divorce, I decided I would never make that mistake again. I wanted to grow up and follow my own star. Yes, I'm happier than ever, and involved in many activities, interests and groups that a spouse would interdict. I relax at home, lay on my chaise lounge reading mystery novels and eating grapes (no lie!), unharrassed, unworried and uncriticized.

Society makes it harder for a single woman both monetarily and socially; but who cares when one's mental health is balanced and healthy. I have children, I'm involved with their lives as far as they permit me to be. I loved being a mom, but disliked being a wife (a thousand times harder).

Nolacaliente

Funny you mentioned the "right-hand ring." A Swedish company is now looking to sell a blue "single ring" for $50: www.singelringen.com

I just wrote a column about it for Gannett newspapers:

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060420/COLUMNISTS07/604200317/1056

Perhaps the poster who said that single people will die alone, without children, doesn't understand that having children is no guarantee that they will take care of you in your old age. (Childless married people hear this all the time.)

I knew a number of single and/or childless people who lived into their eighties and nineties, in some cases long outliving their partners, spouses, and family members, and they did not die alone--far from it. They died surrounded by longtime friends from ages twenty-five to eighty. They lived amazing lives that I would kill to have (one was present at the Yalta conference in 1945). And I'm tearing up remembering some of them now, dammit.

If you're the sort of person who thinks that all you need for company in your old age are your children and grandchildren, you are pretty sad, man.

, for one, am thrilled to see such an article. As a happily single woman of 31 with no intention of ever marrying, I get really tired of being treated like a freak.

And you think a newspaper or magazine article will change attitudes?

Ha!

Spelling, grammar, mechanics, cogent reasoning and reliable statistics...they're all hard. Well, for you and SER, obviously. And they reveal a cut and paste mentality, an "it's true cuz I printed it in Broadsheet" mentality, or "it's true because I'm a feminist and it's the thought that counts" mentality.

Start taking yourself and your profession seriously and other will, too.

Standards. Not wishes.

Reality. Not platitudes.

deadline + cut/paste + snark = a new Broadsheet column

Remember, Salon makes money off hits to the site and its sponsors. The sillier the article, the more letters to the editor. They're not interested in solid journalism or facts, otherwise they'd have to really become legit.

Of course being single is fabulous! I am just in that situation, focusing on my career and professional life. If the best man comes along, that's good too. I'm not going to cry if I don't get a man immediately. There is just too much to do in this world to cry over that old spilled milk.

As for the arugment that Rob Anderson pointed out, that is a very selfish reason to have children to begin with. He immediately points out that children are the only people to cry over once adults get old and start to pass on. That's not true. A person doesn't have to be blood related to be considered family. All my friends is also who I consider family. I don't want just my children near me when I'm ready to pass on, I would like everyone I love from my aunts and uncles and all my friends and co-workers. I would like everyone who has touched a certain part in my life near me when I'm ready to breathe my last breath. Not just the kids.