Singles groups have mushroomed in the last 10 years, says a national singles expert based in Evanston.
Gail Prince estimates there were only “a handful” of singles groups in the Chicago area when she began her work here in 1975. She has written columns on singles for the now-defunct Inside Chicago magazine, has published two guides that assist singles in meeting and developing friendships, has spoken at symposiums around the country, runs five support groups for the unmarried and offers workshops and a video on flirting.
“I think there are more singles groups now than there ever have been,” Prince said, noting that at present, about 150 groups exist in the Chicago area. “One of the reasons for that-and certainly there are many-is because the single person is much more accepted in society.”
“I think there are more singles groups now than there ever have been,” Prince said, noting that at present, about 150 groups exist in the Chicago area. “One of the reasons for that-and certainly there are many-is because the single person is much more accepted in society.”
The growth of support groups reflects changes in society and attitudes, Prince said.
According to the U.S Census Bureau, the percentage of married U.S. residents dropped by 10.3 percent from 1970 to 1990. Froma Walsh, director of the University of Chicago’s Center for Family Health, attributes part of this decline to people delaying marriage in favor of a career. But looking for love with a co-worker isn’t always an option, she said.
“A job situation isn’t quite the same dating scene that you had in school,” Walsh explained.
She added that as the nation’s divorce rate has grown (from 3.2 percent of the population in 1970 to 8.6 percent in 1990), singles groups have increased, in part, because they are one of any single person’s options for making new friends. Often, a divorced person won’t get as many invitations to join couples-people they used to share time with when married-because they are divorced, Walsh said.
“They lose a whole social network because of that,” she said.
Outside of singles groups, people are looking for prospective partners at health clubs or bars or by using services that offer an introduction to people via videotape, Prince said.
“Singles groups are a safer place to meet people. They are certainly safer than going to a bar . . . or taking out a personal ad,” Prince said. The groups offer a feeling of safety because many focus first on friendship, she added.
“There is no one best place to meet someone,” Walsh said. “But no matter where you go, you won’t be successful unless you make the effort to be friendly and approachable and go with the attitude that `I’m going to make this work for me.’ “
