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Obviously, many women (and men) are happily married. But according to research, many women are perfectly happy remaining single.

Single Women Without Children Are Happy and Healthy

According to happiness expert Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics, women who are single with no children are the happiest.[i] Dolan explains says that while men derive benefits from marriage, the same cannot generally be said for women.

Dolan explains that men benefit from tying the knot because they "calm down." They become less inclined to take risks, earn more money, and live longer. But the same results do not benefit married women. In fact, Dolan notes that married men tend to be healthier due to less risk-taking, but marriage apparently does not impact women's health—except to the extent that middle-aged married women have an elevated risk of both mental and physical conditions as compared with their single counterparts. Dolan concludes that “[t]he healthiest and happiest population subgroup are women who never married or had children."

Relevant to the questions we ask our single female friends who have decided to fly solo, Dolan makes an interesting observation about the modern perception of success—as compared to the experience of happiness. While society values certain types of life accomplishments and achievements, Dolan notes that recent data shows that “long-established, traditional symbols of success did not necessarily correlate with happiness levels.”

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Women Are More Satisfied Remaining Single Than Men

Other research demonstrates how singlehood for women is increasingly viewed as desirable. A study from data analysts Mintel indicates women are more satisfied with being single than men, and less likely to look for a relationship.[ii] Part of the explanation has to do with women working harder than their male counterparts in relationships.

According to Professor Emily Grundy, of the University of Essex, "There's evidence that women spend longer on domestic tasks than men and I think they also do more emotional work — so they still do more housework and cooking and things as well as more emotional labour."

Dr. Grundy also notes that women tend to be more involved within social networks as compared to men, who often rely strongly on their wives. In her words: "Women tend to be better at having alternative social networks and other confidantes whereas men tend to rely quite heavily on their wives for that and have fewer other social ties."

Selective When Choosing a Partner

Many single women are simply more selective in choosing a mate. Research notes how this explanation for singleness has evolved over the years.

Kinneret Lahad in “The Selective Single Woman as a New Social Problem” (2013)[iii] notes that a study of American single women in nineteenth-century New England found that selectiveness was equated with high morality. Yet Lahad notes that the larger body of literature indicates that selectiveness is more of a changing concept, “dependent on a multiplicity of factors and relating to different social realities.”

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Lahad notes that modern selectiveness among single women often prompts practical advice suggesting that it is “time to compromise.” Yet Lahad poses several important questions: How do we distinguish between selectiveness and compromise? Does compromising involve losing or maintaining control? And how could a woman remain true to herself and also form a relationship—particularly if she is not ready?

It appears that despite societal standards that are somewhat outdated but changing slowly, many single women are enjoying the benefits of their selected status.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093373)

According to Professor Emily Grundy, of the University of Essex, "There's evidence that women spend longer on domestic tasks than men and I think they also do more emotional work — so they still do more housework and cooking and things as well as more emotional labour."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093464)

* * *

I had a GPT3 write me a similar article for fun:

Happy solo: why more and more American women are flying solo

by Jane hadley

It's a Friday night, and while some of her friends are out with their husbands or boyfriends, Rachel is enjoying a quiet evening at home with a good book and a glass of wine. She's happy being single and has no plans to change that anytime soon.

According to recent statistics, Rachel is part of a growing trend of American women who are choosing to live solo. In fact, single women without children now make up the second largest demographic group in the United States after married couples with children. And these women are not just single by choice – they're happily single.

So what's behind this surge in solo living?

For Rachel, it's simply a matter of enjoying her own company. "I'm just as happy being by myself as I am with other people," she says. "I don't need someone else to complete me."

This sentiment is echoed by other single women interviewed for this article. "I like my own space and I like being able to do things on my own schedule," says Mia, a 33-year-old single woman without children. "I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything by not being in a relationship."

experts say there are a number of factors driving this trend. "There are more women than ever before who are independent and financially secure," says psychologist Dr. Nancy Berlinger. "They don't need to rely on a man to support them."

This increased independence has given women more freedom to choose how they want to live their lives. And for many, that means choosing to live solo.

"Women today are much more likely to see being single as a positive lifestyle choice," says sociologist Dr. Elizabeth Bridges. "It's no longer seen as something to be pitied or tolerated."

So if you're happy being single, there's no need to apologize – you're part of a growing trend!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093497)

Non-liberal women are getting married and pumping out kids like crazy, my friends in Chicago talk about how the big social pressure is that 4 kids is the new 3 kids. I assure you those people don't live in Wicker Park.

Most of the girls I know who were not crazy liberal and didn't become doctors or lawyers have multiple children.

Shrews can self-segregate themselves out of society, I have no issue with that, I don't think there's really that many of them.

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093699)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_fertility_rate#/media/File:Total_Fertility_Rate_by_U.S._state.svg

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093785)

Lots of abortions

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093857)

then when they get too old and aren't hitched they blame men while pretending its NBD, they never wanted to be hitched anyway

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093794)

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093866)

https://ifstudies.org/blog/are-married-people-still-happier

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45093895)

“men benefit from tying the knot because they "calm down." They become less inclined to take risks, earn more money, and live longer.” - in other words marriage kills men’s fun and turns them into salary cattle. Thanks women!

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5182738&forum_id=2#45213214)