The recent debate on whether Singaporean women are too picky when choosing a partner is part of a bigger global problem of couples getting married at later ages, opting to be single or engaged for longer periods of time.
The numbers do not lie; singleness is on the rise. FMT reports that the average age of marriage among couples has risen from 24.7 in 1990 to 28.9 in 2022.
What is the cause? In recent years, people, especially women, have started focusing more on their careers as opposed to finding a partner and settling down. With the global rise of feminism, women no longer opt to sacrifice their career paths to start a family.
With the rise in the costs of living and prices of daily necessities, many companies have not adapted to the shift in the economy. This results in salary payments being too low for one to survive, forcing people to work additional years to be able to save up the necessary amount to afford to get married.
Another reason why committing to a marriage in this age is harder is because of the dating culture that has been built over the years. Many are no longer looking for serious relationships and intentional dating but rather ‘situationships’ that require less commitment. This makes it difficult for anyone serious about dating to find the right partner.
Moreover, social media has heavily influenced the way people view relationships and marriage. Single people seem to be portrayed as happier than those who are married because they have the freedom to do whatever they desire, like travelling and thriving in their workplace without having to worry about their partners or children.
On the flip side, being single still has its downsides. There is pressure from the older generation to find a partner and get married so that one is taken care of later in life. It is extremely common during cultural celebrations like the Chinese New Year or Hari Raya.
Additionally, there are labels given to single people, such as being too picky, independent, or not trying hard enough.
Both being single and being married have their benefits, and it is up to one’s personal choice which to be. No one should be shamed for their decision.
Rayna Leong (leongrayna@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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