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Rise of the freemale

By Carla Bevan on Monday 2 June 2008

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Cameron Diaz

The number of single women has hit an all-time high as girls everywhere choose time and money over men.

According to the latest stats, 8% of women aged between 25 and 44 now live alone - that's around 690,000 of us, and double the number of 20 years ago.

Dubbed the 'freemale', two-thirds of these single gals says they're happy without a man beside them in bed every night.

With celebrities like Kylie Minogue and Cameron Diaz pioneering the trend, sociologists say single living could be the biggest social trend of the coming decades, with some forecasters claiming single-person homes could account for up to 70% of the growth in households by 2026.

'There's a cynicism about the benefits of long-term relationships because people have seen lots of them break down,' Paula Hal from Relate tells the Daily Mail.

'If you're busy and fulfilled with lots of close friends, then relationships may seem a bit irrelevant, emotionally high-risk and a lot of hard work. There is also less of an economic need for women to be in relationships than there used to be.

'There is also less of a stigma about not having children. Now, these women call themselves childfree rather than childless.

'Basically, women feel comfortable doing whatever they want to do with their lives.'

Monday 2 June 2008

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I think it's really fascinating that when women have the freedom to choose - a significant number choose not to get married or have children till later, if at all. It really busts the myth that we're somehow all 'programmed' to be mothers or wives. I do wish there were more men who understood that, that's not meant as an aggressive feminist statement, but simply a reflection of how different women are in their aspirations.
It also saddens me when I think how many women of generations past - or in other parts of the world - were/are suffocated by the lack of options. I'm constantly grateful I have the choice, even if I'm asked to explain my life choices by rather a lot of incredulous men.
By the way, I'm 38, very well travelled, very happy with my lot - and there's lots of room for relationships - but they just have to be the right ones. It's a big world. Don't limit yourself!
Comment by Caro on June 02 20:48

So true how women have changed ...but what about men? I am in my sixties, fit and still appear to be very attractive to men. I travel independently . I enjoy my freedom and now know how suffocating some of my past relationships were.

But most of the men I meet in my age group are so needy.
They do not appear to value their independence after divorce or loss of spouse.and do not realise how fulfilling being independent can be. I am forever being 'wooed' not as a lover but as a housekeeper. Where are the free spirits and adventurers? Rarely in uk!
Comment by mags on June 03 10:08

I've done the whole relationship thing, and am currently single and provide occasional respite foster care for children aged under 10. I enjoy providing foster care but don't think I would find full time motherhood fulfilling. Some people react strangly when I say this and no woman with children with will admit that maybe motherhood isn't really all it's cracked up to be. I have lots of friends who have the whole package of partner and kids and I can honestly say most them are less happier than I am, in fact half of them are on anti-depressants because of the pressure of trying to be all things to all people.
Comment by seaneen on June 03 10:10

What a load of rubbish, most single women I know do not 'choose' to be on their own they just can't find suitable reliable men.
Comment by Louise on June 03 11:12