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Singles
The Magazine for
Today's Single

SINGLE STATS:

The Facts of the Matrimony

From Singles, The Magazine for Today's Single

Once again, single people have been trampled upon. This time in a Los Angeles Times story of June 12, 2000 in the Health section of the paper. The article describes a series of scientific experiments which document the ill health of singles, and the lack of longevity in singles, as compared to the married. It’s all true. Except - it’s not the marriage or singleness which leads to such calamity, it’s the deficient health styles or lack of adequate social support systems. This article is singlebashing at it’s most refined. With documents in hand, waving the moralistic flag of science and technology to prove singledom's deficiencies. Naturally the article was written by a married guy, and those all interviewed were married. The various health benefits conferred to the married are revealed, simultaneously telling us in the same breath, that it was not the marriage per se that led to them.

This is but one recent example of the indignities singles suffer as the dominant myths of our time continue to plague those of us who dare to defy convention. Yet the facts are changing, slowly but surely. While singlebashing may remain in good stead, the height of LA high fashion, and just incidentally happen to support the mainstream’s status quo agenda, the facts continue to paint a stark contrasting picture to the usual propaganda.

According to the American Association of Single People, a non-profit activist group working on the frontlines of the battle against singles discrimination, there is a huge void in the advocacy of singles rights. Their goal is to fill that void. There is a comprehensive list of issues they describe in detail ranging from single parents rights to tenant discrimination. Using much current US census data as one primary source, they chart the growing empowerment of singles, and a more realist picture emerges.Here are a few tidbits to open your eyes:

That singles constitute 40% or more of the US population.

That in many metropolitan areas, singles comprise the majority of the population.

That singles living alone make up 25% of the adult population by households.

Of the nations 34 million rental units, 62% are occupied by singles.

That half of all children today will spend time in a single parent family.

That there is a growing population heading to 100 million singles in the United States.

Such facts as these show us the folly of singlebashing attitudes. AASP reports that even the judicial system is a co-conspirator in this singular form of prejudice, and that the law has " created two distinct classes of people, those who are married, and those who are not."

Small wonder that it costs about 10 bucks and a signature to get married, and closer to 500 and a pile of paperwork to untie the knot. Clearly, such obvious forms of discrimination, are adjoined to age old Nationalistic (pick one..) fears of a dwindling national gene pool. Apply this internationally, and what comes to the surface is a vast conspiracy theory much larger than JFK. The grand forces that unite an almost universal need to keep reproducing through matrimony overtly aligns itself with the great propaganda machines of the world. Even our own legal system cooperates in many ways as AASP documents. This huge conspiracy of prejudice has its own vocabulary. Accepted cliches, such as Old Maid, or Two is Better than One, highlight an undercurrent of jargon little spoken yet much accepted. Even if the fear underlying the movements to bash the unmarried was once upon a time a relevant one - the continuation of our species - especially the species in our country (pick a country..) - the fact of such a need, vastly differ. Most honest economists or scientists with an understanding of ecological issues are quick to point out that Overpopulation is one of our planets gravest problems. So what sort of system is pushing for increased population through matrimony? An antiquated one, to be sure. And where does this thinking originate in modern times if not through ignorance of the actual facts of the situation, or a blatant denial of their relevance. With almost 100 million singles presently in the US, and no end to the growth insight, it’s time to end the ridiculous stereotyping of the unhappy, sickly, dour single. It’s time for the judicial systems of the world (pick one..) to redress the many unfair laws affecting singles. Here are some pointed out by the AASP:

It is a crime in 21 states for consenting, if unmarried, adults to live together.

There is much legislative stigma, such as 13 states which still use the phrase bastard, and 37 states where children can be considered illegitimate.

Married employees typically receive greater pay through benefits, than employees living unmarried with a partner.

Many landlords refuse to rent to single-parent families or unmarried parents.

There are many couple discounts offered by business, few are given to singles.

Singles are often grouped together by insurance companies as a "high risk" class.

Taxes are also skewed in a variety of ways for the benefit of married couples.

The rights of criminals are often given priority over the victims unmarried partner, or household member.

Some states disallow the unmarried to adopt or discourage custody.

Palimony is rarely granted.

There is little civil right protection for singles discrimination.

As the growing political clout of singles comes to the be organized, and its market power taken more seriously, an inevitable empowerment will begin to take its place. At the AASP, there is a lobby group to address judicial matters. They are hard at work to change the system. As they and others work to fight the rampant discriminations, similar to those which effect many "minority" groups, new stereotypes will grow out of it. As they put it, the American Association for Single People has been formed to fill a void in civil rights advocacy. Finally, there is a group that makes marital status discrimination its top priority. AASP is there for you, to protect your rights as a single person whether you live alone or with someone else, whether you are straight, gay, or bisexual, whether you are young or old, with or without a disability, and regardless or your race or ethnicity. You may be single, but not alone.

Note: The American Association for Single People may be accessed online at : www.singlerights.com