September 28, 2007

Make Room for Singles in Teaching and Research

By BELLA DEPAULO, RACHEL F. MORAN, and E. KAY TRIMBERGER

Over the past few decades, the demographics of the United States have changed markedly. In 1970, 28 percent of Americans over 17 were single — divorced, widowed, or never married. More than twice as many households consisted of mom, dad, and the kids than of single adults living on their own. In 2005 more than 40 percent of adults were single, and more households contained just one person than married couples with children. In another striking departure from the past, Americans now