Happy Singles Awareness Day!
“[…] When two people visibly ride the Relationship Escalator together, this fact alone often yields some increase in their security, prestige and comfort. These advantages spring from social couple privilege: the assumption that people who are coupled up are more important, and worthy of greater consideration and reward, than other people. […]
Consequently, all else being equal, people who are coupled up Escalator-style (or who appear to be) often receive more respect, validation, support and recognition than people who are unpartnered, or unconventionally unpartnered. […]
Couple privilege is a subtle but powerful social force. It offers tangible and intangible benefits and opportunities — from better access to health insurance and tax cuts, to a better chance of being considered likable, competent or trustworthy. […]
Generally, people in traditional intimate relationships tend to face less suspicion, scrutiny, resistance and prejudice. Singlism is rampant: the common stigma associated with adults who are entirely unpartnered — or at least, who do not appear to have a ‘committed’ (potentially ‘Escalator’) relationship. […]”
[From the book “Stepping of the Relationship Escalator — Uncommon love and life” by Amy Gahran]
Important note: what is being said here is not that normative relationships (e.g. the so-called Relationship Escalator) are wrong, but rather the fact that they are considered “normal” is the problem.
Happy Singles Awareness Day!
The Little Prince and the Fox 