Final answer:
People decide to stay single due to a variety of reasons including social pressure, personal independence, career success, and shifts in societal norms towards marriage and cohabitation. Cultural factors such as religion and race also play a role in the decision to marry or remain single.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the reasons why people choose to stay single is multifaceted. Social pressure to get married affects both single men and women, though women often face greater scrutiny and may feel insecure or displaced when their single status is disparaged. However, many single women over thirty-five feel secure and content with their unmarried status, finding success in their education and careers.
Cultural shifts have also led to an increase in single-parent households and cohabitation, which along with priority given to education and career, contribute to people marrying later in life or not at all. Factors such as religion, cultural expectations, and race also influence decisions regarding marriage. For instance, Asian individuals are more likely to marry, while African Americans and those who place no value on religion are more likely to stay single.
With changing societal norms and the acceptance of diverse family structures, being single is increasingly seen as a valid choice rather than a temporary state until marriage. As people pursue personal goals and fulfillment, unmarried adults navigate their lives with independence and in some cases, a preference for single living.