To think more women would stay single if it wasn't for societal pressure

[penelopepitstopsgain]

When you consider women live longer when single, are less likely to suffer mental, emotional and physical distress (16 women and children have been murdered to date since lockdown in the UK) there is a strong public health case that staying single is better for women; yet society often frowns on it and other women often"pity" single women.

FWIW i'm in a LTR, but I've never had an issue being single... in many cases it's been preferable for my peace of mind!

On here you see it time and time again.. women hanging on to the lowest forms of life sometimes with horrific consequences for them and their children, all for that dreaded fear of being alone and it got me thinking..

If there was a PR campaign that positioned being single as the healthy option it is, more women would be brave enough to opt out.

YABU - Women want relationships and society has no influence

YANBU - If single was the norm more women would make that choice

I don't feel any societal pressure to be in a relationship. I have children, but the majority of my friends don't and they're mostly over 45. Most of them are single as well.

But I want a relationship. I feel a big part of my life is missing without one. I want someone who will make me a priority in the way friends can't. There's a physical ache in my chest when I think about it. It definitely coming from within me, not from society. I have hardly any blood relatives apart from my children, so I wonder if that's a factor. There is a feeling of vulnerability without a family support network. And I miss the physical side of a relationship. Not just sex, but being touched.

I'm a single mum and I love it. We don't struggle financially now but we did at first. When I left my ex I had no job so I went on benefits. Still a million times better than being in an unhappy relationship and DS was happy too.

@Zaphodsotherhead such an honest assessment and I can imagine for many women the options are defined by circumstances and as they improve your options can too.

I think it's natural to want to be with another human being but I rarely ever hear women (in the public eye, friends or on forums) advocating that where you do have options, being single is a valid one also.

Without resorting to stereotypes women generally can always find male company .. it's the quality that's hard and I just wish that when the quality is low we don't fear being single but actually embrace it until the quality improves!