‘Self-partnered’ Watson leads single revolution

Are traditional relationships dying? Emma Watson has described herself as “self-partnered” rather than single, as millions of people around the globe embrace life without romantic love.
Emma Watson, former Harry Potter star and international feminist activist, is very happy being single. So happy, in fact, that she thinks of herself instead as “self-partnered”.
In a new Vogue cover interview, 29-year-old Watson said that women approaching 30 face pressure to marry and have children.
“There’s this incredible amount of anxiety,” she said.
But Watson says she is happy with her “self-partnered” life.
Her statement comes as young people around the world turn their backs on traditional relationships.
“I’m now referring to myself as self-partnered instead of single. I love my new relationship status,” wrote one user on Twitter yesterday.
For the first time ever, more than half of Americans aged between 18 and 34 say they do not have a romantic partner. Those who do decide to marry are making the commitment later and later.
Experts believe there are many factors at play. Women raised in an era of greater equality are unwilling to sacrifice their education and careers for motherhood, while more reject marriage as an outdated, patriarchal institution.
Are traditional relationships dying out?
All the single ladies
In Quartz, Cassie Werber writes that “from Brooklyn to Paris, Rwanda to Japan”, societies are changing “the way we think about love and partnership” as people delay or give up on marriage and romance altogether. Careers take priority and self-care culture tells us that the secret of happiness is being comfortable with oneself. We just don’t need relationships.
But can that really be true? Trends always go around in circles. As it happens, social factors may have conspired to make marriage seem a bit stale, but falling in love is one of the most powerful and meaningful experiences in a human life. Companionship, affection, intimacy: these are things that cannot go out of date.
You Decide
- Are romantic relationships overrated?
Activities
- Write down five things that you think are most important for living a full and happy life.
Some People Say...
“I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart’s affections.”
John Keats (1795-1821), English Romantic poetWhat do you think?
Q & A
- What do we know?
- Emma Watson was nine years old when cast to play Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, adapted from J.K. Rowling’s series of bestselling children’s books.
- What do we not know?
- Exactly how many more people are single now compared with previous decades. Many official national statistics list anyone who isn’t married as “single”, even if they are in a relationship.
Word Watch
- Feminist activist
- Watson was appointed UN Women Goodwill Ambassador in July 2014. Since then, she headed the HeForShe campaign, which encourages men to stand up for women’s empowerment.
- Vogue
- The world’s most famous fashion magazine. Watson will appear on the cover of the December issue.
- Patriarchal
- When a society is controlled by men. Many feminists believe that our societies are still fundamentally geared towards male control.
Become an Expert
- Emma Watson delivered this powerful speech about men supporting women at the UN in 2014. The Telegraph — YouTube. (2:39)
- “Single? No, I’m a happy self‑partner, says Emma Watson”. Clear news reporting on the story in The Times. (400 words; Paywall)
- Following the news that 51% of American young people are single, The Washington Post carried out these enlightening, short interviews. (700 words)