In honor of National Single & Unmarried Americans Week (did you know?), New York Times columnist Tara Parker-Pope blogged about discrimination against singles, which psychologist professor Bella DePaulo considers one of the last accepted prejudices. She's given it a term, which is the title of DePaulo's new book: "Singlism: What It Is, Why It Matters And How To Stop It."
An example DePaulo cites: the Family and Medical Leave Act. Parker-Pope writes:
Because [DePaulo] is single and has no children, nobody in her life can take time off under the law to care for her if she becomes ill. Nor does it require that she be given time off to care for a sibling, nephew or close friend.
Stephanie Coontz, director of research for the Council on Contemporary Families, echoes DePaulo's assertions, noting that policy makers often neglect the needs of single people. In the past, singles have been described as "deviant," "neurotic," and "selfish," Coontz points out.
What do you think, CatholicMatchers? Have you encountered discrimination because you are single?
