All the Single Ladies : Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation

* NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOKS OF 2016 SELECTION * BEST BOOKS OF 2016 SELECTION BY THE BOSTON GLOBE * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY * NPR * CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY * The New York Times bestselling investigation into the sexual, economic, and emotional lives of women is "an informative and thought-provoking book for anyone—not just the single ladies—who want to gain a greater understanding of this pivotal moment in the history of the United States" ( The New York Times Book Review ). In 2009, award-winning journalist Rebecca Traister started All the Single Ladies about the twenty-first century phenomenon of the American single woman. It was the year the proportion of American women who were married dropped below fifty percent; and the median age of first marriages, which had remained between twenty and twenty-two years old for nearly a century (1890–1980), had risen dramatically to twenty-seven. But over the course of her vast research and more than a hundred interviews with academics and social scientists and prominent single women, Traister discovered a startling truth: the phenomenon of the single woman in America is not a new one. And historically, when women were given options beyond early heterosexual marriage, the results were massive social change—temperance, abolition, secondary education, and more. Today, only twenty percent of Americans are married by age twenty-nine, compared to nearly sixty percent in 1960. "An informative and thought-provoking book for anyone—not just single ladies" ( The New York Times Book Review ), All the Single Ladies is a remarkable portrait of contemporary American life and how we got here, through the lens of the unmarried American woman. Covering class, race, sexual orientation, and filled with vivid anecdotes from fascinating contemporary and historical figures, "we're better off reading Rebecca Traister on women, politics, and America than pretty much anyone else" ( The Boston Globe ). Today, Only Twenty Percent Of Americans Are Wed By Age Twenty-nine, Compared To Nearly Sixty Percent In 1960. The Population Reference Bureau Calls It A 'dramatic Reversal.' [this Book Presents A] Portrait Of Contemporary American Life And How We Got Here, Through The Lens Of The Single American Woman, Covering Class, Race, [and] Sexual Orientation, And Filled With ... Anecdotes From ... Contemporary And Historical Figures-- In 2010, Award-winning Journalist Rebecca Traister Started A Book That She Thought Would Be About The Twenty-first-century Phenomenon Of The American Single Woman. Over The Course Of Her Research, Traister Made A Startling Discovery: Historically, When Women Have Had Options Beyond Early Heterosexual Marriage, Their Resulting Independence Has Provoked Massive Social Change. Unmarried Women Were Crucial To The Abolition, Suffrage, Temperance, And Labor Movements; They Created Settlement Houses And Secondary Education For Women. Today, Only 20% Of Americans Are Wed By Age 29, Compared To Nearly 60% In 1960. The Population Reference Bureau Calls It A Dramatic Reversal. Traister Sets Out To Examine How This Generation Of Independent Women Is Changing The World. This Is A Remarkable Portrait Of Contemporary American Life And How We Got Here, Through The Lens Of The Single American Woman. Covering Class, Race, And Sexual Orientation, And Filled With Vivid Anecdotes From Fascinating Contemporary And Historical Figures, This Book Is Destined To Be A Classic Work Of Social History And Journalism.--adapted From Dust Jacket. Working On A Book About Single Women In The Twenty-first-century, Traister Made A Startling Discovery: Historically, When Women Have Had Options Beyond Early Heterosexual Marriage, Their Resulting Independence Has Provoked Massive Social Change. Unmarried Women Were Crucial To The Abolition, Suffrage, Temperance, And Labor Movements; They Created Settlement Houses And Secondary Education For Women. Today, Only 20% Of Americans Are Wed By Age 29, Compared To Nearly 60% In 1960. Through The Lens Of The Single American Woman, Traister Covers Issues Of Class, Race, And Sexual Orientation. Watch Out For That Woman : The Political And Social Power Of An Unmarried Nation -- Single Women Have Often Made History : Unmarried In America -- The Sex Of The Cities : Urban Life And Female Independence -- Dangerous As Lucifer Matches : The Friendships Of Women -- My Solitude, My Self : Single Women On Their Own -- For Richer : Work, Money, And Independence -- For Poorer : Single Women And Sexism, Racism, And Poverty -- Sex And The Single Girls : Virginity To Promiscuity And Beyond -- Horse And Carriage : Marrying -- And Not Marrying -- In The Time Of Singlehood -- Then Comes What? And When? : Independence And Parenthood. Rebecca Traister. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [313]-316). "In a provocative, groundbreaking work, National Magazine Award­-finalist Rebecca Traister, "the most brilliant voice on feminism in this country" (Anne Lamott), traces the history of unmarried women in America who, through social, political, and economic means, have radically shaped our nation. For legions of women, living single isn't news; it's life. In 2009, the award-winning journalist Rebecca Traister started All the Single Ladies--a book she thought would be a work of contemporary journalism--about the twenty-first century phenomenon of the American single woman. It was the year the proportion of American women who were married dropped below fifty percent; and the median age of first marriages, which had remained between twenty and twenty-two years old for nearly a century (1890-1980), had risen dramatically to twenty-seven. But over the course of her vast research and more than a hundred interviews with academics and social scientists and prominent single women, Traister discovered a startling truth: the phenomenon of the single woman in America is not a new one. And historically, when women were given options beyond early heterosexual marriage, the results were massive social change--temperance, abolition, secondary education, and more. Today, only twenty percent of Americans are wed by age twenty-nine, compared to nearly sixty percent in 1960. The Population Reference Bureau calls it a "dramatic reversal." All the Single Ladies is a remarkable portrait of contemporary American life and how we got here, through the lens of the single American woman. Covering class, race, sexual orientation, and filled with vivid anecdotes from fascinating contemporary and historical figures, All the Single Ladies is destined to be a classic work of social history and journalism. Exhaustively researched, brilliantly balanced, and told with Traister's signature wit and insight, this book should be shelved alongside Gail Collins's When Everything Changed"-- Provided by publisher A nuanced investigation into the sexual, economic, and emotional lives of women in America, this "singularly triumphant work" ( Los Angeles Times ) by Rebecca Traister "the most brilliant voice on feminism in the country" (Anne Lamott) is "sure to be vigorously discussed" ( Booklist , starred review). In 2009, the award-winning journalist Rebecca Traister started All the Single Ladies ?a book she thought would be a work of contemporary journalism?about the twenty-first century phenomenon of the American single woman. It was the year the proportion of American women who were married dropped below fifty percent; and the median age of first marriages, which had remained between twenty and twenty-two years old for nearly a century (1890?1980), had risen dramatically to twenty-seven. But over the course of her vast research and more than a hundred interviews with academics and social scientists and prominent single women, Traister discovered a startling truth: the phenomenon of the single woman in America is not a new one. And historically, when women were given options beyond early heterosexual marriage, the results were massive social change?temperance, abolition, secondary education, and more. Today, only twenty percent of Americans are wed by age twenty-nine, compared to nearly sixty percent in 1960. The Population Reference Bureau calls it a "dramatic reversal." All the Single Ladies is a remarkable portrait of contemporary American life and how we got here, through the lens of the single American woman. Covering class, race, sexual orientation, and filled with vivid anecdotes from fascinating contemporary and historical figures, All the Single Ladies is destined to be a classic work of social history and journalism. Exhaustively researched, brilliantly balanced, and told with Traister's signature wit and insight, this book should be shelved alongside Gail Collins's When Everything Changed