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Katie Couric's Notebook: Unmarried Women

Hi, everyone.

For the first time, more American women are unmarried than married.

According to the New York Times, 35 percent of women in the 1950's were single. In 2005, it was 51 percent.

Why the trend in women saying "I DON'T?"

Sociologists say women are marrying later or living with someone instead. And as they age, they often outlive their husbands and decide not to remarry.

Another reason: More independent women have no economic incentive to marry.

The trend could have some pretty big ramifications in terms of social policy and our perception of the family. Government can no longer count on people spending most of their adult lives married.

When I think of my parents about to celebrate their 63rd wedding anniversary, it makes me a little sad. But having more choices is a good thing, too, if women actually have a choice. Maybe it comes back to what Flannery O'Connor wrote "A good man is hard to find."

That's a page from my notebook.

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