Abstract
Who are singles? Why are they becoming important in the socio-economic context of world politics? Do they need to be studied academically? Are they forming a community of their own? Statistics have confirmed that demographically, ‘singles’ - by choice, at heart, socially, and legally - are defining themselves as a growing population group through ideology, identity politics, and are setting new goals for themselves. To understand their livelihood, achievements, and contribution, one needs to understand their perspectives and vocabularies consisting of terms like ‘single at heart’, ‘self-partnered’, ‘singleton’, ‘singlism’ and so on. The book, Singular selves: An introduction to Singles Studies, addresses all these concerns and navigates the discussion on the importance of developing a discourse of Singles Studies in academia.
Singular selves explores singlehood through multiple lenses, including those of race, media, language, culture, literature, space, health, and life satisfaction, with the purpose of establishing Singles Studies as a discipline. The underlying prejudices of patriarchy and amatonormative culture (a milieu in which being in an exclusive and amorous relationship is assumed to be the only healthy and approved way for mature people to live) are exposed through meticulous analysis and critique, challenging the notion that fulfillment can only come through partnership. Drawing on a variety of sources, including literature, history, economics, and cultural studies, this book provides a comprehensive and nuanced critique of singlehood discourse, particularly across the different cultures and societies of North America, Africa, and Asia. The book addresses how single individuals exercise agency in their lives, focusing on empowerment and autonomy, and advocating for women's rights to choose their paths without societal pressure to conform to traditional roles.
The introductory chapter by the two editors Ketaki Chowkhani and Craig Wynne sets the tone of the discussion by contextualizing the need for the introduction of Singles Studies. Both academicians are teaching courses in India and the USA on Singles Studies. They have felt the need to initiate a discussion on the lives of ‘singles’ as a perspective. Bella DePaulo's
In the first part, ‘Laying the Field’, Bella DePaulo, the most seminal figure in the development of Singles Studies, has hinted at the evolution of the discourse with its terminologies and ideology. She has established the road map of the discipline within and beyond academia for reaching broader audiences who care about the vast variability and social justice of the people embracing single life. Andriana Savu has analyzed singlehood as a concept through linguistic construction and its representation in various European languages like French, Polish, and Romanian by mapping the socio-historical change through (mis)understanding the politics of translation. Krish Marsh and Olivia James have explored the positive experiences of singlehood among African Americans in the US. Besides coining the term “Love Jones Cohort”, their discussion involves the accumulation and distribution of wealth along with concerns linked to aging, middle class identity, and what it means to be Black and single.
The sub-section ‘Singlehood, Media, and Literature’ studies the representation of singles and singlehood in popular culture, media and literature amongst various societies and cultural spaces over the centuries. Saumya Sharma has conducted a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) on how popular media portrays singles on Valentine's Day, expanding beyond traditional literary forms. Katherine Fama and Joan DelFattore offer insightful analysis of fictions depicting single life, perpetuating negative preconceptions about solitary women, including bitterness and vindictiveness. Elizabeth Foulke (re)interprets Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse as a discourse that portrays Lily Briscoe, a single female protagonist, in a progressive and favorable light.
The third segment, ‘Singlehood, Space and Well- Being’, is structured into thematic sections that tackle identity, cultural perceptions, well-being, and the intersectionality of singlehood with factors such as race, gender, and ethnic groups. While Laura Dales and Nora Kottmann have studied the impact of COVID-19 on singlehood rates in Japan, Elyakim Kislev employs a quantitative analysis to investigate how workplaces treat the singles and their outlook towards professional space and career choices. Dominika Ochnik has explored what factors contribute to singles’ satisfaction with singlehood and life through in-depth understanding of singles’ psychological functioning and financial behavior. Singular selves employs a comprehensive and varied methodological approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative research, case studies, and theoretical discussions to construct a well-rounded exploration of singlehood.
One of the most interesting parts of the book is that it reverses the misconception that singlehood is always associated with sadness, stigma, and social discrimination. This book's construction of an alternative narration in which the idea of singlehood is a choice of livelihood, with satisfaction and dignity for all gendered beings, calls for celebration. The editors aim not just for consciousness-raising but also encourage readers to question the ways in which the paradigm of ‘compulsory coupledom’ has interpreted society. Besides developing theoretical frameworks in Singles Studies, Singular selves offers a liberating perspective on what it means to be single in today's society. By shedding light on the joys and strengths of single living, it is a must-read collection for those who seek to embrace their own single status with confidence and pride, both within and beyond academia and for their allies.
