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Volume 28, Issue 2/3
  • ISSN: 1388-3186
  • E-ISSN: 2352-2437
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Abstract

Abstract

From a life course perspective, the postponement of partnership formation and the choice – or circumstance – of remaining unpartnered have become increasingly accepted among young adults in westernised societies. Yet, portraying this group as uniformly aligned with dominant societal values of autonomy and self-exploration risks overlooking the diverse and sometimes conflicting ways in which singlehood is experienced and internalised as a social identity. This study explores how being unpartnered is shaped and lived by young adults in Belgium, focusing on the intersections of gender and migration background. Drawing on an in-depth qualitative analysis of personal narratives, our findings reveal that while singlehood is gaining societal legitimacy, substantial differences persist in how it is perceived and experienced – particularly across gendered and sociocultural-related lines. Individuals with a migration background continue to face stronger familial and sociocultural expectations regarding partnership, while those without such a background tend to navigate singlehood with greater social autonomy. Gender further complicates these dynamics, with women generally reporting higher social scrutiny than men. These insights highlight the importance of moving beyond generalised accounts of singlehood by attending to the complex interplay of social position, sociocultural norms, and personal agency in an increasingly diverse society.

© Dries Van Gasse, Elke Claessens & Dimitri Mortelmans
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2025-09-01
2025-12-13
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/content/journals/10.5117/TVGN2025.2-3.003.GASS
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Navigating Personal Choice, Socio-cultural Background and Societal Norms in Forming a Singlehood Identity in Belgium
TvGend 28, 171 (2025); https://doi.org/10.5117/TVGN2025.2-3.003.GASS
/content/journals/10.5117/TVGN2025.2-3.003.GASS
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Keyword(s): emerging adulthood; intersectionality; life course; Singlehood

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