Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

People living along (sic) have risen by a third since the Seventies
The Guardian ^ | Sunday January 30, 2005 | Jo Revill

Posted on 01/31/2005 6:35:22 AM PST by presidio9

Living alone rather than meeting Mr or Mrs Right is the goal towards which a growing number of young people are striving, especially men. A survey will show this week that the longer people live by themselves, the more likely they are to keep doing so. However, after the age of 45, there is a gender switch - more women start to leave their partners and live alone, sometimes because children have grown up and left home and their marriages dissolve.

Over the past 30 years, the number of UK households with just one occupant has risen 31 per cent, although the population has grown by only 5 per cent in that period, according to the research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, which tracked the lives of more than 150,000 individuals since 1971.

The figures have serious implications for the housing market, with a huge shortage of affordable housing for the young right across the country. However, it also marks the growth of the culture of 'individualisation', with both men and women unwilling to sacrifice their personal freedom - and income - to co-habit or get married.

Research carried out by Malcolm Williams, from the University of Plymouth, to be published tomorrow, reveals that in their late teens and early twenties, both men and women are likely to live by themselves but after 25 men are far more likely to be going it alone.

Williams said: 'All the signs are that the trend towards living alone will continue. Even more socially important is that, once people have gone solo, they are more likely to continue to do so.'

The figures out tomorrow show that in 1971 just 1.6 per cent of people aged between 15 and 44 lived alone, but that this rose to 3.5 per cent in 1981 and to 8.4 per cent by 1991. It is predicted that the next set of figures will show that in 2002 the proportion will have risen again to encompass one-third of all households.

But some experts have argued that it is not necessarily beneficial for people to spend long periods of life by themselves. Solo living is simply the result of greater choice in life, particularly for women, and also the greater fragility in relationships.

Men may be twice as likely as women to be living on their own between the ages of 35 and 44 but are less well suited to the single life. Research published last year showed they had fewer friends and were more likely to have poor diets, suffer from depression and live in less comfortable homes.

Researchers at Edinburgh University said solo living was a growing social trend affecting city populations in particular, but that it had its downside.

'Single professionals often choose to settle and take advantage of a metropolitan lifestyle. What we regard as "the norm" is changing and this has implications for families and relationships as well as working and housing arrangements,' said researcher Adam Smith.

Family breakdown has also contributed to the single trend because women are far more likely to keep the children and become lone parents while men move into a flat on their own.

Professor Richard Scase, an economist from the University of Kent and author of the report Britain 2010, said: 'Women have the emotional capital to develop and keep friendships and support networks, whereas men tend to become more isolated when living alone without women to arrange their social lives.'


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 01/31/2005 6:35:22 AM PST by presidio9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: presidio9
'Women have the emotional capital to develop and keep friendships and support networks, whereas men tend to become more isolated when living alone without women to arrange their social lives.'

Lawrence Summers might come to the conclusion that Men lack the innate ability to live alone successfully. But, so far, Mr. Summers is keeping his opinion to himself.

2 posted on 01/31/2005 6:39:23 AM PST by ClearCase_guy (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

I'm single, male, live alone and thought I was happy but here I am told I should be hanging myself.


3 posted on 01/31/2005 6:42:50 AM PST by CzarNicky (The problem with bad ideas is that they seemed like good ideas at the time.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

I think the rise of the internet will make lots of men decide to live alone. The internet can be "your friend". Of course it isnt good to be a shutin and I have to take steps to avoid it but I can easily see where it can be a problem and many men would rather have a computer then a wife and visa versa.


4 posted on 01/31/2005 6:48:06 AM PST by winodog (I am gonna stop calling them liberals. They are humanists. Liberal is actually a good word)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

I lived alone for a couple of years between the Marines and getting married. At first, it was nice to be able to do whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. But it got old after a while. Eventually I stopped keeping the place immaculate and it slowly started turning into a pigsty. I always did the basic cleaning but I'd never get around to the details, like cleaning under things and cleaning the oven, etc. I also stopped cooking altogether and started eating a lot of takeout and convenience food. Needless to say my waistline expanded a lot during those two years.


5 posted on 01/31/2005 6:48:33 AM PST by SamAdams76 (iPod Shuffle Is A Gateway Drug)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ClearCase_guy

Men alone quickly sink to a level where bodily functions assume titanic importance.


6 posted on 01/31/2005 6:50:09 AM PST by Sam the Sham
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sam the Sham
"where bodily functions assume titanic importance"

Bodily functions DON'T have titanic importance?

7 posted on 01/31/2005 6:54:35 AM PST by Texas dog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Texas dog

LOL.

Exactly. Stop having bodily functions and see what happens.


8 posted on 01/31/2005 7:37:24 AM PST by dmz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: presidio9

I live alone because I can snore without complaints.


9 posted on 01/31/2005 7:39:04 AM PST by Lazamataz (Proudly Posting Without Reading the Article Since 1999!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Sam the Sham
Men alone quickly sink to a level where bodily functions assume titanic importance.

All of my bodily functions are awe-inspiring.

10 posted on 01/31/2005 7:40:01 AM PST by Lazamataz (Proudly Posting Without Reading the Article Since 1999!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: presidio9
Williams said: 'All the signs are that the trend towards living alone will continue. Even more socially important is that, once people have gone solo, they are more likely to continue to do so.'

Some of us find the secret to happiness is living a single life. We just wish people would quit trying to 'fix us up'. Living alone does not mean we're lonely.

My friends have been given a 'shoot on sight' order if I decide to get married again.

11 posted on 01/31/2005 7:55:22 AM PST by TonyBanks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

All your bodily functions are belong to us!


12 posted on 01/31/2005 9:39:13 AM PST by Tatze (I voted for John Kerry before I voted against him!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson