More women opt for solo living

More young women are choosing to live alone and they are more educated and earn higher incomes in professional jobs than their male counterparts, research has found.

One-quarter of Australian households are now made up of one person living alone, which has soared up from 8 per cent in 1946, according to data from the Australian Institute of Family Studies published today.

Senior researcher fellow Lixia Qu said living alone was linked to social advantage for young women, but not so for men. that was not the case for men.

“They (young women who live alone) stand out from those who do not live alone and from men in general in the same age groups,” she said. “In many respects these young women who live alone are well-to-do and have choices.”

The data shows young women living alone are more likely to be professionals (38 per cent) than women living with others (28 per cent) and young men living alone (24 per cent). Among young women and men living alone, women are much more likely to have at least a degree (45 per cent) compared with men (26 per cent).

Dr Qu said a reason for the contrast could be the mismatch that has been building between unattached younger women and men.

“The longstanding pattern for women to ‘marry up’ creates this situation,” she said. “There is a shortage of available men, successful men, for these women.”

Some women may find it difficult to find a suitable partner who is comfortable with a more successful partner.” There’s less of a pool for matching (these) women’s education and occupation,” she said.

Co-author Professor David de Vaus said while some linked the living alone trend to a decline in commitment to family living and increased social fragmentationand a rise in loneliness, others saw it as reflecting choice.

Albina Skender, 29, enjoys lives alone in the South Perth home she bought 15 months ago.

“Young women now who are educated now have the financial means to purchase their own place because they want to,” she said. “My job is very high-pressure and very busy, so it’s nice to come home and have that peace and quiet.”

“It’s spacious and I’ve got my own courtyard. It’s my little castle.”