Is ‘being single’ the new happily ever after?

Marriage is on the decline across the world. Young people are increasingly choosing to disavow marital expectations to live a life on their own terms.

This is the beginning of a new cultural movement where young people cannot be bothered to date. And a threat to the long-held belief that marriage is the foundational relationship for all of society.

To understand the cultural phenomenon, let’s look at the far east, South Korea and Japan. Two traditionalist countries that for years have followed a group-oriented social structure and are now at the cusp of change.

In South Korea, this new cultural movement is called honjok. The honjok movement celebrates the individual over the group.

For instance, let’s look at the new cultural ecosystem around eating out. In every Korean restaurant, now there are specific seating arrangements for solo diners, there are curtains for privacy, and the meal portion sizes are designed keeping singles in mind.

Eating alone is not taboo anymore. Rather it is embraced and celebrated. In South Korea, it’s now completely normal to go to movies alone, to attend concerts alone. No stares, no comments, nothing of that sort.

In Japan, there is a rise of new species of men termed as the ‘vegetarian’ men. Men who express little interest in getting married or being assertive in relationships with women. And if you start observing people around you, you’ll find glimpses of this cultural phenomenon across Asia, especially in the big cities.

So, what’s driving this cultural change?

1. Marriage is a ‘costly’ affair

Economists cite the rising cost of living as a key factor contributing to the overall decline in marriages across the world. Young people see marriage as an economic burden and are just not ready to take it up.

While I agree, when the world went through the great depression in 1929, marriage rates saw a dip. But society’s view never changed. Marriages were delayed but not denied. More importantly, being single was never normalized.

2. I, Me, Myself!

The new world encourages us to prioritize ‘self’ over else. Maybe for young people, it’s about letting go of society’s pressures to get married by a certain age, to work for a steady salary, to never ask questions, and caring less what others think.

Or maybe,

3. We now share an emotional relationship with technology.

Today, I see people happier with their phones than they are with other people around them. Even when people are out with someone, they are secretly dating their phones. There is more joy in sharing experiences online than living those experiences with someone.

Technology is making people laugh with a meme. It’s is there to listen to them at even odd hours, provide them with advice in the most difficult situations. And with increasing internet connectivity, technology is by their side 24*7. So, why and for what you need a life partner?

Sex?

Well, for that there always an option to swipe right! Thanks to technology.