Women: Single and Loving It

What annoys me is that people tell me I need a man because my children need a father. Now, I know that a two parent household is ideal, but when people tell me that my daughter is going to spend her life looking for the love of her father in @!$%# men or my son will beat his wife because a MAN didn't tell him otherwise . . . that irks the hell out of me.

My question is why popular culture feels more threatened by women that love being single VS men. Could it be the sexual liberation part or is there more to it as I believe?

Then patriarchy is long overdue to be dismantled. The laws around the world view women in varying degrees of property akin to chattel. The West is better in some ways but we aren't there yet.

Great points everyone! Women married, had children and served their husbands, period. Any deviation to this was suspect. I was 20 1/2 when I married...I was an old maid. I was 23 when I gave birth to my first child...I was way past my prime. Actresses were over the hill at 25-30 and the only parts they could score were old lady parts. If you wanted to live alone there was something seriously mentally wrong with you.

I found, however, that living alone meant one less child in the house. I didn't have to answer to anyone but myself and decisions were easy. I didn't have to put up with adult accusation and tantrums, which was a big bonus. My creativity, motivation, joy and productivity were on a high level without a mate.

I did twenty years as single parent/single woman and loved it all. Not all men were users and abusers but many certainly felt entitled and did not reason that maybe sharing was better than expecting full service without reciprocation.

My daughter, 27 years old, told me last month that when she realized she did not need to marry or have children a huge weight came off her shoulders. I was a bit surprised she was concerned, as I was certainly not the source of her thinking she might have to marry and have children. I just believe that mindset hasn't evaporated as well as most of us had wished.

Comparing one to the other just can't work.

Agreed. And the divorce rate is not a good indicator either. Both of my grandparents were divorced by the time they met. They had just passed their 50 year anniversary together when she passed away. On the flip side, that oppressed woman may never get out and will bolster the "never-divorced" numbers.

We've all observed unions that are abusive and difficult. Take the woman whose husband puts her down in front of others and laughs. The man who will not allow his wife to do anything without permission. The man who acts superior and is continually condescending. You know this wife is not a happy woman.

On the other hand I am living with a man I've known and been best friends with for 38 years. When we got together two years ago it was very difficult for him not to act like a fuddy duddy and issue instructions and criticize. I told him to forget about us being an item unless he could lighten up and act like an equal partner and forget about being dominant and controlling. He kept telling me I had anger issues but I knew who had the anger issues. My son came to visit and took my guy to task about his behavior. I told this man I love dearly that unless he could begin living and having fun and stop grinding his teeth over every little petty thing we were through. He gave it a try and seven months later we are best friends again and have a great time all of the time. It was worth the effort but if it hadn't worked out we would have still been friends but both happily single once again.