51% of Women Are Now Living Without Spouse

New York Times ^ | 16 January 2007 | Sam Roberts

[shrinkermd]

For what experts say is probably the first time, more American women are living without a husband than with one, according to a New York Times analysis of census results.

In 2005, 51 percent of women said they were living without a spouse, up from 35 percent in 1950 and 49 percent in 2000.

Coupled with the fact that in 2005 married couples became a minority of all American households for the first time, the trend could ultimately shape social and workplace policies, including the ways government and employers distribute benefits.

Several factors are driving the statistical shift. At one end of the age spectrum, women are marrying later or living with unmarried partners more often and for longer periods. At the other end, women are living longer as widows and, after a divorce, are more likely than men to delay remarriage, sometimes delighting in their newfound freedom.

In addition, marriage rates among black women remain low. Only about 30 percent of black women are living with a spouse, according to the Census Bureau, compared with about 49 percent of Hispanic women, 55 percent of non-Hispanic white women and more than 60 percent of Asian women.

In a relatively small number of cases, the living arrangement is temporary, because the husbands are working out of town, are in the military or are institutionalized. But while most women eventually marry, the larger trend is unmistakable.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Why do all these threads become anti-woman..

"Cuz they are such beeotches". (JK!!!!!!) I like ladies. They make good dinners so i can watch my racing and I can have nice, clean, pressed clothes ready for me in the morning.

[Jeff Chandler]

Tattooed, half naked in public, jumping into the sack with at the drop of a hat... Loud, uncouth, unclean, unnatural, unfeminine, tattoos, bastard children in tow, drug dependent and a potential carrier of STDs...

Ain't it the truth! I am certainly not in the market, but when I see a female with tattoos or piercings, the words "venereal disease" pops into my head.

[billbears]

Whew...didn't need to see THAT!! But yes, either physically, or in some cases the mindset.

[ProCivitas]

Exactly.

[Jeff Chandler]

I like ladies. They make good dinners so i can watch my racing and I can have nice, clean, pressed clothes ready for me in the morning.

And beer tastes better when a woman brings it to you.

[linda_22003]

I just think "low class", for either sex with them --- definitely not just females.

[HitmanLV]

Not a huge leap at all, just experience and clarity. The truth comes out in the wash - a person who is consistently rejected isn't rejected by a series of people because they are a fantastic catch. That makes no sense at all, though may provide comfort to the rejected.

There are always isolated cases, and there are some personality types that aren't looking for a good companion but for a fast time. But if a person is consistently overlooked by otherwise good people, it's time for them to adjust.

[HitmanLV]

Glad it worked out. I just don't want to deal with that kind of dynamic, and since I don't have to, all is good.

[IslandJeff]

I don't buy into the nice guy/jerk paradigm. Women tend to want a good, masculine man. An excessively nice, too accommodating male comes across as less than masculine and is rejected by women, regardless of how stable he is.

So, how does a man stay masculine enough within a marriage to sustain a wife's interest when it comes time to do the dishes, clean the cat-box, etc?

[Nice Guy Dud here]

[spintreebob]

The problem with most guys is they look for women in all the wrong places.

This might be the crux for both sexes. The single guys I know mostly look at church, at work, in political and professional associations, neigbors, and the associates of those above. They do not look at parties, at bars, etc because they know that they lack a life-of-the-party personality and do not come accross well at parties.

Most women I know do not look at co-workers, or church, or professional associations. They go to parties and dances and are attracted to the life-of-the-party, who is usually an irresponsible drunk.

[lilylangtree]

Finally, some statistics that include my category.

[Fierce Allegiance]

And beer tastes better when a woman brings it to you.

Tucked in her considerable cleavage so the glass bottle isn't too cold and wet on my hands after coming right out of the 32 degree beer fridge. < /MCP mode >

[Tijeras_Slim]

Seeing as how I just got Mrs. Slim a shotgun, I'm glad she's not into following fads like this.

[Indy Pendance]

From the comments posted on this thread, no woman in her right mind would date, let alone marry or stay married to some of these losers.

[HitmanLV]

These threads usually become anti-woman because there is a pocket of angry FR men who women won't give the time of day. Rather than consider personal change, they came to the conclusion that all women must suck, since why else would they all reject them?

It's strange.

[My Favorite Headache]

AMEN!!!!!!!!

[linda_22003]

Wow, I see what you mean! :)

[IslandJeff]

Spot on. Welcome to my life.

[HitmanLV]

There is no shortage at all of attractive, young, quality women in the dating pool. Guys who go on and on about how much women suck just lose me.

[Jeff Chandler]

Tucked in her considerable cleavage so the glass bottle isn't too cold and wet on my hands after coming right out of the 32 degree beer fridge.

We could go into more descriptive detail, but this isn't that kind of forum, and besides, we wouldn't want to enourage any unwelcome Helen Thomas photos.