Singular Selves: An Introduction to Singlehood Studies edited by Ketaki Chowkhani and Craig Wynne (published by Routledge in 2024) is the outcome of a developing, global endeavour to bring forth academic legitimacy to the study of singlehood and single lives, as well as to establish a Singles Studies discipline. Drawing a kinship with the discipline of Gender Studies, the editors (Chowkhani and Wynne) have sought out a thoroughly inter-disciplinary approach drawing from across sociology, psychology, literary studies, socio-linguistics, and demography studies, among a few. In establishing a global, decolonised perspective, this volume seeks a dialogue between scholars embedded in vastly different socio-cultural contexts, drawing on work from India, the United States, Japan, Romania, and Poland to name a few. The chapters in this volume demonstrate the use of various methodologies, ranging from quantitative and qualitative analyses based on surveys and census data, critical discourse analysis, literary and cultural studies analysis etc. These diverse methodologies have been efficacious in bringing out a vast variety of lived experiences associated with singlehood.

Scholars in this volume draw largely from the influential work of social psychologist Bella DePaulo, whose coinage of the term ‘singlism’ (in 2005) captures the extent of stereotyping, stigmatisation and ensuing discrimination faced by single people, in the American context. This has profoundly affected how later scholars have come to conceptualise singlehood – problematising compulsory heterosexuality, and adopting and domesticating concepts of ‘singlism’ within particular local contexts.

The first subtheme is justly dedicated to laying the field. Bella DePaulo’s chapter “Changing Thinking, Changing Language, Changing Lives: The Power and Promise of Singles Studies”, reiterates some of her earlier arguments on singlism and discrimination, here looking specifically at the ‘single at heart’ – those people who believe they live their most fulfilling lives by staying single. The chapter argues that adopting a respectful and affirming perspective might enable fundamental change in thought, language and lived experience. Building on this, Adriana Savu’s chapter “What We Talk About When We (Don’t) Talk About Singlehood”, explores the historical evolution of concepts and terms relating to singlehood across a few European languages. It examines at what points in history, terms in particular local languages have undergone semantic changes intertwined as they are with ongoing sociocultural shifts. Kris Marsh and Olivia James’ chapter “Single (Never Married), Black, and Middle Class by the Numbers”, argues for the need to critique the dominant representation of primarily White experiences within the developing Singles Studies discipline. By studying changes in a Black middle class, rapidly shifting from a couple and family-oriented system to that of single, working individuals living alone (SALA[i]), the chapter argues that Black single lives have been pioneering in demonstrating how alternative strategies may be employed to address emotional, sexual, material needs. It further critiques the prevalent idea that a move into middle-class status must invariably be the result of marriage, in turn showing the potency of the SALA group in achieving desirable status conditions.

Under the second sub-theme that explores media and literature from a Singles Studies lens, Saumya Sharma’s chapter “Singlehood and Valentine’s Day: A Study of Discursive Representations and Emotions in the Media”, examines media discourse around singles and singlehood in relation to Valentine’s Day, showing how the modern-day consumerist logic enables the commodification of everyday behaviour. Within such a logic it is possible to consolidate heteronormative hegemony, privileging romance and coupledom, while also constructing images of empowered, independent, self-sufficient singles, who can be coaxed into entering new offers, consuming new services. Katherine A. Fama’s chapter, “New Uncertainties and Fresh Concessions: Edith Wharton’s Ambivalent Single Fictions of Middle Age”, argues for the need to focus on depictions of conflict and constraint amidst proliferating studies on singlehood-reaffirming perspectives of choice and agency. Choice narratives tend to represent privileged positions, whereas ambivalent approaches are more demonstrative of diverse and intersectional experiences. Joan DelFattore’s incisive critique of the popular play W; T in her chapter “Unwitting W; T: A Case Study in the Relationship between Literary Stereotypes and Real-Life Discrimination”,  draws parallels between her own experiences of advanced-stage cancer and that of the play’s lead character – both older, single, working women. The chapter highlights how ‘singlist’ stereotypes prevalent in popular culture, which assumes complete isolation and lack of social support in singles’ lives, can have devastating and life-threatening outcomes when they interact and intertwine with already gender-biased medical practices.

Under the third and last subtheme exploring singlehood, space and well-being, Laura Dales and Nora Kottman’s chapter “Japanese Singles and Solo-Life”, provides an overarching reflection of contemporary single lives in Japan. It traces the shifts in social demographics as Japanese society moves from traditional, family-oriented structures to one with proliferating instances of singlehood and solo living – Tokyo has emerged as a space conducive and welcoming to various newly developing aspects of solo life. Expanding on the question of well-being, both Elyakim Kislev’s (“Singles in the Workplace: Benefits and Challenges”) and Dominika Ochnik’s (“Exploring Satisfaction with Singlehood among Diverse Groups of Singles”) chapters employ quantitative analysis to understand levels of satisfaction among singles and how that affects notions of well-being among people across European societies.

Spanning diverse disciplines and approaches, this edited volume emerges as a strong entry into establishing and further developing a Singles Studies discipline. Committed as it is to the dual aim of consciousness-raising and theory building, this volume makes use of feminist epistemology and hints towards a critical heterosexuality studies bent, but does not seem to theoretically engage with them head-on. It also misses out on research drawn from sustained ethnographic studies, which might have provided insight into the rich intricacies of single everyday life. However, as the first such collection of its kind, drawing from an extensive global pool of research, this volume is a ground-breaking contribution, aptly capable of legitimising the need for the discipline and helping immensely future scholars who endeavour to bring to light the complex, multivariate meanings and experiences associated with singlehood in society.

[i] Single and Living Alone (coined and used by the authors)

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Madhuparna Sen is a PhD student at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge.