In a Married World, Singles Struggle for Attention

After reading Tara Pope’s recent article, In a Married World, Singles Struggle for Attention, we were compelled to respond.

Magnum Magnet's Soundoff

FINALLY! Thank the lord we have a movement! National Single and Unmarried Americans Week! I believe that singles live in a biased world. Sure, we have sexual freedom, but we don't get any special recognition for it. No singles flag day, no celebration for keeping your standards high, no parties for birth control rates - my list goes on.

I give mad props to those couples that know they don't want kids and don't fall into the pressures of having them. I also give mad props to the Brangelinas out there that don't think a piece of paper defines their relationship and can still raise a healthy, thriving family.
Besides just a few government write-offs for married couples, I really don't see an advantage to marriage besides stating your vows publically to each other - to love and hold, through richer or poorer, bla bla bla...LIES! In today's world, a promise doesn't hold much weight anymore, so even that can go down the toilet. I enjoy my social life. I enjoy networking. I enjoy helping my community. I think it is important to find someone that will live parallel with my life, not interfere with it and hold me from my enjoyments.

I feel a sense of urgency at my age to have kids, but a piece of paper won't define my future baby daddy as a capable loving partner and father.

Magnum Magnet xo


Monica Santa's Soundoff

So, last week was apparently National Single and Unmarried Americans Week. Really? Who knew! Did I somehow miss the parade and the celebrations? I imagine many others missed this week as well. I suppose if it’s not recognized with a hallmark card, it doesn’t count. Us “single’s” are always getting the short end of the stick it seems. But why? And what is it going to take for single’s to get some kind of recognition within the world of the married’s vs. the unmarried’s. Everyone at some point is single and this is absolutely fine. Why do we pay more taxes, have higher insurance premiums, etc.? Why pick on me because I’m single? If anything, shouldn’t I be getting some support? If you are married, you have dual income, yet the single people are the one’s that have no breaks and pay more. I have been single more than I have had the luxury of the coveted “plus one”. Singledom is pretty awesome and society needs to re-evaluate their view that we are somehow maladjusted. Not having found someone you want to marry isn’t a sin! - Yet I feel punished.

I was happy Tara’s article pointed out the fact that “single” people contribute to their communities and society as a whole more than “married’s.”  So in essence, society needs us single people in the long run, doing our part to stay “active members of the world” and let me add, the economy. I volunteer, I go out a lot and I spend lots of money! Fairly certain this is good for the economy and the community. So to those that would think that being married implies you have “arrived,” I say, it’s another state of existence and it might be joyous and lovely, but don’t discount the single state which has its perks and from which you actually benefit. It’s time us single’s start fighting for some rights. Who’s with me?!

Monica Santa


The Juggler's Soundoff

Marriage???  Been there done that...and DONE is the operative word! The perks that come with being married does not even outweigh the dramas, headaches and heartaches. Yes, singledom does come with these too, but it's much easier to deal with when you are on your own.

In today's society, we don't need a piece of paper to prove our commitment to one another... best examples of this is Hawn-Russel and Brangelina. Being single should be celebrated with a parade, a Hallmark card and given a date on the calendar.xxoo - The Juggler


Honey Badger's Soundoff

Single awareness week? Shit, I've been celebrating my single awareness for almost ten years now. (Ok, there's been multiple 3-month long-until-I-get-bored-or-smothered bfs over the years, but unless you pass the 6-month threshold, I don't give a damn who you think you are...you just don't count by my calculations.) THAT'S HOW MUCH I LOVE BEING SINGLE. I've created my own calculation to further maximize my singledom. Instead of stirring the economy the way married folk do with matching track suits, matching personalized license plates and eventually baby gap and Kindergarten payments, I splurge on weekend trips and weeknights out, all the while stirring another drink in celebration of my singlehood. Fortunately, if I ever get tricked into marriage, I can safely look back and know I'm confident and capable  on my own and not a carbon copy mutant that settled down with the first guy available rather than sample around to get a wider picture on what's even out there. In closing, and on a very serious note, I would like to say I LOVE BEING SINGLE and am so fortunate for the friendships and experiences I've gathered along the way. 
XO, HB



The Ladies of L.A.I.D. would like to say, Thanks, Tara!