Release:
2023, Vol. 9. № 1 (33)About the author:
Elena A. Lyubimova, Cand. Sci. (Soc), Assistant professor, Department of General and Social Psychology, University of Tyumen, Tyumen, RussiaAbstract:
The purpose of the article is to characterize the phenomenon of solo living through the prism of foreign studies from the standpoint of economic and sociological approaches, revealing its interdisciplinarity and multidirection. Solo living is a worldwide trend that is observed throughout the Western world and extends to non–Western countries. The use of an interdisciplinary approach allows us to give a comprehensive idea of the phenomenon under study. At the first stage of the study, more than 100 scientific publications for the period 2000–2022 relevant to the topic were analyzed, on the basis of which the author was able to identify three relevant research approaches to the study of the phenomenon of solo living — economic, sociological and psychological. At the second stage of the study, 26 scientific papers of socio-economic orientation were selected, which are the basis for a qualitative analysis of the foreign socio-economic representation of solo living. Taking into account the specifics of a single lifestyle within the framework of an economic approach is relevant for the justification of state policy in the field of real estate, urban planning, tourism and leisure. This demographic trend has a noticeable impact on society, because in many respects singles behave differently than other segments of the population. The significant representation of solo living is compared with traditional households and social practices. This phenomenon develops, changing social reality and ideas about relationships, affects the specifics of urban planning and economics. The sociological approach to this topic focuses on the absence of established cultural models and the ambivalence of solo living, and also describes the discrimination of solo living, which is investigated through stereotypes to them and the relationship “work — personal life”. There are gender differences in the attitude to solo living, so, single men who are building a career are evaluated positively, women — negatively. Solo living is present in all social strata, and can be considered as a strategy for coping with the challenges of society, creating a living space for recreation.Keywords:
References:
Klinenberg, E. (2014). Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone. Alpina non-fikshn. [In Russian]
Lyubimova, E. A. (2020, November 12–14). Foreign Studies of Solo Life. Proceedings of the All-Russian Research Conference 14th “Kovalevskie chteniya” “Tsifrovoe obshchestvo — novyj format social’noj real’nosti: struktury, processy i tendencii razvitiya”, 185–186. [In Russian]
Lyubimova, E. A. & Andreeva, O. S. (2018). Peculiarities of Self Boundaries in Women Consciously Choosing to Live Solo. Tavricheskij zhurnal psihiatrii, 2(3), 17–23. [In Russian]
Smelser, N. J. (2004). On Comparative Analysis, Interdisciplinarity and Internationalization in Sociology. Socis, (11), 2–3. [In Russian]
Ang, C. S., Lee, K. F., & Lie, X. (2020). Understanding singleness: a phenomenological study of single women in beijing and singapore. Qualitative Report, 25(8), 3080–3100. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4269
Ayuso, L. (2019). What future awaits couples Living Apart Together (LAT)? Sociological Review, 67(1), 226–244. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026118799053
de Vaus, D. & Qu, L. (2015). Demographics of living alone. Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia, 22(1), 27–38. Retrieved January 3, 2021 from https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/INFORMIT.377657191876929
Deka, D. (2014). The living, moving and travel behaviour of the growing American solo: Implications for cities. Urban Studies, 51, 634–654. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042098013492233
DePaulo, B. M. & Morris, W. L. (2006). The unrecognized stereotyping and discrimination against singles. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 15, 251–254. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2006.00446.x
Eurostat. (2016). Statistical Atlas: Share of single-person households. Retrieved March 19, 2023 from http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistical-atlas/gis/viewer/?config=census.json
Forsyth, A., Molinsky, J., & Kan, H. Y. (2019). Improving housing and neighborhoods for the vulnerable: older people, small households, urban design, and planning. Urban Design International, 24(3), 171–186. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41289-019-00081-x
Hall, C. & Andrews, F. 2019. Designing high-density neighbourhoods to promote social health in Australia. Journal of Social Inclusion, 10(2), 18–38. http://doi.org/10.36251/josi.147
Jamieson, L. & Simpson, R. (2013). Solo-living with and without Partnering and Parenting. In Living Alone (pp. 57–87). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137318527_3
Jamieson, L., Wasoff, F., & Simpson, R. (2009). Solo-living, demographic and family change: the need to know more about men. Sociological Research Online, 14(2–3). https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.1888
Kvapilová Bartošová M. & Fučík P. (2017). Emerging adulthood, solo living and changes in gender subjectivity. Sociologia (Slovakia), 49(3), 265–284.
Lahad, K. (2017). A Table for One: A critical reading of singlehood, gender and time. Manchester University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt1wn0s66
Leith, C. (2020). Tourism trends: lifestyle developments and the links to solo tourism. Journal of Tourism Futures, 6(3), 251–255. https://doi.org/10.1108/JTF-11-2019-0126
Molgat, M., & Vézina, M. (2008). Transitionless biographies? Youth and representations of solo living. Young, 16(4), 349–371. https://doi.org/10.1177/11033088080160040
Mutanda, N., & Odimegwu, C. O. (2019). Solitary living in South Africa: what is driving the pattern and change? Journal of Population Research, 36(2), 137–158. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12546-019-09222-z
Ntoimo, L. F. C., & Isiugo-Abanihe, U. (2014). Patriarchy and Singlehood Among Women in Lagos, Nigeria. Journal of Family Issues, 35(14), 1980–2008. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X13511249
Setyonaluri, D., Maghfirah, A., & Aryaputra, C. (2020). Norms in Transition? The Relationship between Education and Singlehood. Jurnal Studi Pemuda, 9(2), 136–148. http://doi.org/10.22146/studipemudaugm.57995
Song, Y., & van der Cammen, T. J. M. (2019, July 1). Electronic assistive technology for community-dwelling solo-living older adults: a systematic review. Maturitas, 125, 50–56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2019.04.211
Stalp, M. C. (2014). Book Review: The Marginalized Majority: Media Representation and Lived Experiences of Single Women by Kristie Collins. Gender & Society, 28(6), 932–934. https://doi.org/10.1177/089124321452837
Tervo, A., & Hirvonen, J. (2019). Solo dwellers and domestic spatial needs in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland. Housing Studies, 35(7), 1194–1213. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2019.1652251
Tyvimaa, T. & Kamruzzaman, M. (2019). The effect of young, single person households on apartment prices: an instrument variable approach. Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, 34(1), 91–109. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-018-9618-1
Wilkinson E. (2014). Single People’s Geographies of Home: Intimacy and Friendship beyond “the Family.” Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 46(10), 2452–2468. https://doi.org/10.1068/a130069p
Wilkinson, K., Tomlinson, J., & Gardiner, J. (2017). Exploring the work–life challenges and dilemmas faced by managers and professionals who live alone. Work, Employment and Society, 31(4), 640–656. https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017016677942
Wilkinson, K., Tomlinson, J., & Gardiner, J. (2018). The perceived fairness of work–life balance policies: a UK case study of solo-living managers and professionals without children. Human Resource Management Journal, 28(2), 325–339. https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12181
Yates, L. (2018). Sharing, households and sustainable consumption. Journal of Consumer Culture, 18(3), 433–452. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469540516668229
Yeung, W. J. J. & Cheung, A. K. L. (2015). Living alone: one-person households in Asia. Demographic Research, 32(1), 1099–1112. https://doi.org/10.4054/DemRes.2015.32.40
Young, M. & Lachapelle, U. (2017). Transportation behaviours of the growing Canadian single-person households. Transport Policy, 57, 41–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2017.03.022
