Understanding rising singlehood through the changing realities of young singles in Singapore – the confounding challenges to courtship and marriage.

Abstract

This paper examines the attitudes and behaviours of Chinese singles towards singlehood and marriage from the perspective of university undergraduates and graduates. In particular, my research seeks to investigate the confounding challenges to courtship and marriage in modernized Singapore today. Using Giddens‟ structuration theory, this paper seeks to illustrate the intricate relationship between structure and agency; specifically how structure enables and constrains the resources that individuals draw upon which in turn shape their realities and experiences. Through interviews conducted with these singles, I conclude that the roots of singlehood are structurally rooted in the social system and being single is not necessarily a choice. The respondents expressed positive attitudes towards marriage and spoke about their marriage expectations as well as the difficulties in finding a marriage partner today.