'Singletons' likely to be old women
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.We bought Bridget Jones's Diary and watched Sex and the City but it seems the premise of single, female life is a myth.
Columnists and "chick-lit" novelists seized on the fact that the number of one-person households rose from 26 per cent in 1991 to 30 per cent in 2001 as proof that young women no longer needed a man and were increasingly happy to live alone, unlike their mothers.
But the latest census shows that most "singletons" are old women. Of the 6.1 million single householders in England, half are pensioners. Women over 65 make up three-quarters of these and of the other three million, there are three men to every two women.
And forget the idea of the single woman in her smart loft apartment – 70,000 single households do not have their own bathroom.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments