In a world that often equates success with marriage and motherhood, single women without children often find themselves faced with nagging questions and societal pressures. But what if we told you that this story has a surprising twist? The study suggests that single women without children are actually the happiest among various subgroups of the population. In this survey, we delve into the reasons behind this phenomenon, challenge conventional notions of success and happiness, and highlight the benefits of living independently.
I often struggle with how to answer these (rather harsh) questions, but perhaps I could start by mentioning this research: The happiest women are those who are childless and single.
Why single women without children are the happiest and how to achieve this are not new topics. This study found that single women without children generally tend to be the happiest subgroups of the population.
While there are many happy people in all categories—single men, married men, married women, and all of the above with or without children—these women seem to have scored.
According to Paul Dolan, professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics, there are several reasons for this. First and foremost, partnership has benefits for both s*xes. According to him, men often harvest more of them.
Once men get married, they tend to settle down and stop taking risks. They are able to live longer, healthier lives and earn more money as a result. Conversely, married women are more prone to physical and mental problems in middle age.
They argue that women who have never been married or had no children are the population subgroup with the best rates of health and happiness.
Traditional symbols of success and good luck are not the same thing
Many of us grew up in a society where a stable marriage, family, and job were seen as a sign of success. The last two things that cause women the most stress are children and relationships.
Dolan points out that the findings disprove the widely held belief that “success” is related to contentment and a fulfilled life. Especially for women, relationships and starting a family tend to be more demanding and stressful. Even in 2021, women still dominate “domestic” duties such as cooking and cleaning. Even in a relationship, they usually make more emotional effort.
There is evidence that women spend more time on housework than men, and according to Emily Grundy, a professor at the University of Ess*x, “I think they also do more emotional work — so they still do more housework, cooking and other things. things as well as more emotional work.”
Beyond romantic partnerships, women often have stronger social networks and ties than men. Men, on the other hand, are less likely to develop such strong social relationships because they tend to delegate their social circle to their wives.
Learn more about the concerns parents have about their adult children.
Women who are single lead an independent lifestyle.
Since they don’t have to worry about being in a relationship or having children, single women can focus on themselves and what makes them happy. They do not compromise their own happiness because they have no one to make concessions to. If they want to climb the corporate ladder, they have to act. They are free to choose to quit their jobs and travel the world.
They are free to watch the shows they want to watch, go out or stay in, participate in the activities they want to participate in, etc.
Grundy states that “there is no doubt that a common finding across many studies is that single women tend to engage in more social activities and have more friends than partnered women, while the opposite is true for men—single men have tend to pay much less attention to it.” (2)
Of course, these benefits are also available to heteros*xual single men. Anyone who is single has the advantage of not having a family or any other responsibilities. The difference for women is that these privileges have not been available or authorized to us for a very long time.
That being said, everyone has the ability to experience happiness, regardless of their family background or marital status. You can have a loving, healthy and rewarding connection with your children.
The happiness of single women without children challenges societal norms and opens a wider conversation about what it means to lead a fulfilling life. When we uncover the reasons for their happiness, we find that independence, freedom and social connections play a key role. It’s a reminder that happiness comes in many forms and each individual’s journey is unique. In a world where pressures to conform to traditional roles persist, the happiness of single, childless women is a testament to the power of choice and the pursuit of one’s own happiness.