Singlehood in Israel

In recent decades, the number of men and women who have never married has significantly increased in most post-industrialized countries, including Israel. The purpose of this study was to explore how singlehood is experienced among various groups in Israeli society, what meanings are attached to it, and the extent to which it is viewed as a legitimate form of life. To examine these questions, the study analyzed in-depth interviews conducted with men and women between the ages of 21 and 42 among different population groups, including religious and secular Jews who were neither married nor partnered. Overall, the findings show that the overwhelming majority of the participants viewed singlehood as the result of various life circumstances and thus felt the need to justify it. They expressed a strong wish to marry and did not consider singlehood a desired and legitimate family form. Moreover, the findings show that all the participants faced substantial pressure to marry and constant social criticism for being single. This pattern is consistent with the heteronormative family model, which does not undermine the existing social order. However, a minority of the participants, all women from traditional backgrounds, presented a different pattern one that views singlehood as a legitimate and even desirable alternative. It appears that for these women, choosing to be single as a way of life can take place in the context of physical and mental distancing from the immediate family and emphasizes concepts of self-discovery and self-realization.