Introduction
The social changes that have taken place over the decades have led to a rising social phenomenon across all societies in the 21st century – the increasing trend of solo living. In his book Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone, Eric Klinenberg highlights that people today are choosing to live alone simply “because [they] can”. Rebelling against the traditional beliefs that social distance brings about concerns for the fabric of society, Klinenberg urges readers to embrace the change instead. Considering that our history has led us to where we are today, living alone has become inevitable. Ultimately, policies and social structures must adapt to the changing demands of people who have chosen to …show more content…
Sweden, for instance, comes up first with 47% of their population living in single person households, followed closely in second by Norway with 40%. He attributes this to the fact that these states often protect its citizens from suffering the hardships of going solo. His research also extends to demonstrate how cultural beliefs can affect policies. Japan has only 30% of its population in single person households. Generally, lifestyles are developed and changed in accordance to government policies which act not only to limit an individual’s decisions but also as an agent of socialization that nurtures implicit rules of the society. Naturally, in more affluent countries, people are more economically stable and are able to support themselves. Although the scope of his work is vast in this area, I wish that he discussed more about cultural values and its effects in policy making with greater detail. More Asian countries need to be analysed and evaluated. Singapore, for instance, attributes a large part of its success to the family unit, especially since human resource is a highly valued commodity in the country (“The importance of”, …show more content…
He notes that the biggest group and fastest rising group of solo dwellers are those aged 35 to 64, usually after a divorce or the death of a partner. They are hesitant about getting married again because they some have witnessed the worst form of loneliness – “being married to the wrong person” (Klinenberg, 2013). He shares the story of Dee, a ninety year old who is close to her daughter but is reluctant to move in with her for fear of constant supervision. Joan on the other hand is not even sure if she trusts her closest kin stating that her 11 year old granddaughter is “incredibly manipulative. Not to be trusted an inch” (Klinenberg, 2013). This reflects what Klinenberg terms to be “defensive individualism” where people find it hard to trust and are wary about making sacrifices to accommodate or care for other people. The pool of elderly from the baby boomer generation are privileged to have this option because of the “sustained health, wealth and vitality that have allowed [them] to enjoy and maintain domestic independence longer than anyone in previous generations” (Klinenberg, 2012). Their identities are dependent on their independence and the ability to support themselves. This puts matters into perspective and thoroughly demonstrates how the events of the time drastically shapes and moulds an entire society. Instinctively, one might point to the youths as
The social changes that have taken place over the decades have led to a rising social phenomenon across all societies in the 21st century – the increasing trend of solo living. In his book Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone, Eric Klinenberg highlights that people today are choosing to live alone simply “because [they] can”. Rebelling against the traditional beliefs that social distance brings about concerns for the fabric of society, Klinenberg urges readers to embrace the change instead. Considering that our history has led us to where we are today, living alone has become inevitable. Ultimately, policies and social structures must adapt to the changing demands of people who have chosen to …show more content…
Sweden, for instance, comes up first with 47% of their population living in single person households, followed closely in second by Norway with 40%. He attributes this to the fact that these states often protect its citizens from suffering the hardships of going solo. His research also extends to demonstrate how cultural beliefs can affect policies. Japan has only 30% of its population in single person households. Generally, lifestyles are developed and changed in accordance to government policies which act not only to limit an individual’s decisions but also as an agent of socialization that nurtures implicit rules of the society. Naturally, in more affluent countries, people are more economically stable and are able to support themselves. Although the scope of his work is vast in this area, I wish that he discussed more about cultural values and its effects in policy making with greater detail. More Asian countries need to be analysed and evaluated. Singapore, for instance, attributes a large part of its success to the family unit, especially since human resource is a highly valued commodity in the country (“The importance of”, …show more content…
He notes that the biggest group and fastest rising group of solo dwellers are those aged 35 to 64, usually after a divorce or the death of a partner. They are hesitant about getting married again because they some have witnessed the worst form of loneliness – “being married to the wrong person” (Klinenberg, 2013). He shares the story of Dee, a ninety year old who is close to her daughter but is reluctant to move in with her for fear of constant supervision. Joan on the other hand is not even sure if she trusts her closest kin stating that her 11 year old granddaughter is “incredibly manipulative. Not to be trusted an inch” (Klinenberg, 2013). This reflects what Klinenberg terms to be “defensive individualism” where people find it hard to trust and are wary about making sacrifices to accommodate or care for other people. The pool of elderly from the baby boomer generation are privileged to have this option because of the “sustained health, wealth and vitality that have allowed [them] to enjoy and maintain domestic independence longer than anyone in previous generations” (Klinenberg, 2012). Their identities are dependent on their independence and the ability to support themselves. This puts matters into perspective and thoroughly demonstrates how the events of the time drastically shapes and moulds an entire society. Instinctively, one might point to the youths as