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The phenomenon of "waithood"
Across the globe, women are increasingly experiencing waithood, a term that refers to delaying decisions, like finishing an education and embarking on a career before getting married.
The term was coined in 2008 and relates to both genders. At its root, it is economic.
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Young men across large parts of the world are holding back from relationships and starting families because of unemployment and low wages. This is especially true in places where high dowry payments are expected.
Even places like Greece, Spain, and France are experiencing age-related fertility problems because young people can't afford the trappings of adulthood.
The situation of singledom is increasing in women globally.
- In a range of places, women are becoming the majority of students at university over men, and desire to engage in their career with zeal, which delays marriage.
- One multi-country study from sub-Saharan Africa found that even when women themselves hadn't received a more formal education, they were likely to delay marriage if it was the norm around them.
More and more educated and ambitious women are finding themselves unable to find the mate that they want at the time they’re searching.
The kind of men they are searching for, ready to commit and to start a family, and with similar levels of education and ambition, are not available in the same numbers as are needed.
- 15% of American adults use dating apps
- In a predominantly Muslim culture like Indonesia, some are turning to matchmakers, or to events that offer introductions to potential partners.
The alternative is either for a paradigm shift or waithood where people put the next stage of their lives on hold because they are unable to find a partner or are held back financially.
RELATED IDEAS
- In 1997, the median age for a first marriage was 27.4 for women and 29.5 for men.
- The college-educated are more likely to marry eventually. Nine out of ten wait until after they marry to have children.
- A large portion of those without college educations have a child before they marry.
- In Norway, the median age at first marriage is 39 for men and 38 for women, and weddings often take place long after a couple starts to have children.
In the Middle Age, Christians did not need to marry inside of the church: whenever they came to the consent over the union, they could get married anywhere.
The difficult part was proving that the marriage had taken place though.
As climate change, population growth and technological development bring fast and drastic changes to our world, educational programs that encourage discovery and innovation become ever more necessary.
These programs teach that discovering brings not just good grades, or a financial reward. It brings the satisfaction that one can realize dreams, and thrive, in a world framed by major dramatic questions.