STANDING IN HER BALCONY in New Delhi’s cramped Lajpat Nagar locality, she stares into the distance, thinking of the things that once brought her joy but now sit around her apartment gathering dust, like the guitar she hasn’t strummed in a while. Break-ups are tough. Commitment even tougher. At 39, Chandni (name changed on request), is certain she will never marry. An arts and culture consultant, she is part of a demographic that is fast becoming an economic and political force to reckon with—the single woman.
The 2011 census records a most staggering statistic: a 68 per cent decadal increase in the ranks of the nevermarried woman in the age group 35-44 years. See this in the context of the 27 per cent overall increase in the number of women in the same age bracket over the same period. And now wrap your head around the significance of these two seemingly innocuous pieces of data. These numbers are a statistical validation of an emergent reality most of us have some anecdotal evidence of—the rise of the unattached, independent woman, who has rejected the socially sanctioned default setting of a married life.
The urban Indian single woman is answerable to no one but herself. She is armed with an education and a career and the empowering financial independence it brings. Her life choices are her own. She works hard and parties, if she so pleases, even harder. She may have a partner in her life, or a friend with benefits, or no one at all. She is travelling places, solo or with soul sisters. She gets lonely, but thinks marriage is too heavy a price to pay for her independence. She does not need marriage for a fulfilling life, or children—adoption and IVF help her realise her goal of motherhood.
This story is from the October 21, 2019 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 21, 2019 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Check On Sale Of Insurance
Complaints about insurance mis-selling come up mostly when a claim is rejected or the policyholder doesn't get what he thinks he bought the policy for
How To Make Better Financial Decisions
Let logic, not emotion, dictate your wealth choices. Understand your emotions first, then temper them with facts, and you will arrive at better financial decisions
WHEN DO YOU GET AN INCOME TAX REFUND?
An assessee becomes entitled to an income tax refund when the tax they have paid exceeds what they are liable to pay in a financial year
STANDING UP AND TRANSFORMING LIVES
THE LAUNCH EVENT OF THE MAHINDRA RISE INITIATIVE, ORGANISED BY THE INDIA TODAY GROUP AND MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA, HONOURED WOMEN TRAILBLAZERS WHO ARE LEADING THE CHARGE FOR A BETTER INDIA
THE SENSE OF ARRIVAL
Samantha Ruth Prabhu's journey in the film industry has been about finding success by overcoming fear
IN THE SAFE ZONE
AUTOMOTIVE COMPANIES ARE INCREASINGLY FOCUSSED ON BETTER AND MORE ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES IN THEIR CARS. HEIGHTENED CUSTOMER AWARENESS HAS GIVEN THIS AN ADDED IMPETUS
TWIN STRIKE
WE GET A LEG OVER APRILIA'S MADE-IN-INDIA RS 457 AT THE GRUELLING KARI MOTOR SPEEDWAY
INDIAN SAFETY RATINGS FOR CARS
THE BHARAT NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM RATES THEM FOR BOTH ADULT AND CHILD OCCUPANT PROTECTION
THE MEDIUM, NOT THE MESSAGE
We live in an age where there is an economy built on distraction and a complete corruption of attention.
HAIL TO THE KING - THE HYUNDAI CRETA GETS MAJOR UPDATES, LOOKS SET TO CONTINUE AS SEGMENT LEADER
Just under four years after the arrival of the second generation Creta, Hyundai has given its bestseller a major overhaul with a significant redesign of the exterior and interior, more features, enhanced safety and a new turbo petrol powertrain.