HONOLULU ADVERTISER — Feb 3 — There are 86 million unmarried adults in the United States, a fast-growing group of people who often find themselves singled out in a society designed for two. Despite holding more than 40% of the nation’s jobs, singles often feel they have a lot stacked against them — higher taxes, higher insurance premiums, working more holidays and fewer benefits for their partners. "What’s going on with all these TV shows is the glorification of couplehood," DePaulo says. "And it’s reached a fever pitch at exactly the time when marriage is less and less necessary in many people’s lives." One of the reasons for the rising number of singles is more couples are living together before marriage — 50%, University of Michigan researcher Pamela Smock says. These days, half of all births occur in homes where the parents are not married. 90% of American adults will be married at some point in their lives. But many will end in divorce. The average American adult who lives to age 70 will spend more of his or her adult life single than married. FULL ARTICLE @ HONOLULU ADVERTISER
