When Greta Garbo
famously said, “I want to be alone.” – maybe she really meant it! Studies show
that there has been a major demographic change in America. There has been a
significant increase in the number of Americans living alone.
Henry David Thoreau wrote,
“I
love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as
solitude.” Apparently some people in America today agree as there has been a
sharp spike in the number of Americans who live alone.
Eric Klinenberg, N.Y.U. sociology professor and author of the
book, Going Solo, in the New York Times interview, “America – Single and Loving
It”, claims that single living is an exploding trend. He feels attitudes toward
single living are becoming much more positive and more accepting. In addition, Klinenberg
reports that, for some, single living is both a privilege and a liability. For others in today’s world, he feels single
living may be a more desirable lifestyle alternative to cohabitation.
Statistics
on Single Living
According statistics
reported in the article, “America - Single and Loving It”, one in seven
American adults now live alone. This number is a dramatic increase from the
decade of the 50”s. In 1950, only 22% of Americans lived alone, but most recent
studies show that today the number has increased to almost 50%. Studies show
that approximately 4 out of 10 households are single-person dwellings. In
Manhattan alone, nearly half of all households are comprised of just one
person.
Why
the Number Americans Living Alone is Increasing
The article, “Why More
Americans are Living Alone”, reports that the reasons for the increasing trend
of single living are varied. One reason
is that so many Americans are unmarried. Others are just finishing their
education and embarking on their chosen career paths, and, as a result, are
choosing to live alone in their new venture. Still others, who may have never
intended to live alone, find themselves doing so due to divorce or death of a
spouse or significant other. Finally, there are Americans for whom living alone
is a deliberate and much preferred lifestyle choice.
Why
Living Alone for Some Americans Doesn’t Mean Being Lonely
It may appear to
outside observers that so many singles would be lonely. However, according to
the article, “Live Alone? You’re Not Lonely”, contrary to the Beatles lyrical
claim, one is not the loneliest number. Those choosing to live alone enjoy the
benefit of such simple things as being able to control their own time on their
own terms, to eat and sleep when they want, to read or watch television when
they want, and to socialize with others of their own choosing whenever they
want.
The article further
suggests, that, even though there is an increasing trend of Americans living alone, such a lifestyle is not normally considered a natural state of
affairs. The article suggests that those who choose such a lifestyle and claim
to prefer it is a small percentage. The article claims that, because single
dwelling goes against our baser instincts, those people who choose and prefer
to live alone are just somehow wired differently from those who do not.
Picture credit: Enrica Garroni
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