Its in our tv shows, such as the crazy cat lady in the simpsons. It’s in movies, such as Melanie Daniels in the birds. It’s in our everyday lives, single women, usually above the age of 25, are portrayed in all of these horrible ways. But what’s even worse is the reality of the situation. Ever since humans became civilized, women have always gotten the short end of the stick. From being one of the last allowed to vote, to the pay gap that is still an ongoing issue, to discrimination that’s gone on all throughout history.
Many claim the pay gap between men and women to be something made up by women just to get on men’s backs more, but the statistics prove otherwise. According to the United States Department of Labor; Women’s bureau, women between the ages of 25-34 earn $89 less than men annually. Pay isn’t the only problem with jobs though, there is also an opportunity gap between men and women, meaning women have less of a chance to be accepted into jobs such as management. This isn’t an economic problem, it’s a social problem. For example,only 11.1% of physicists and astronomers are women according to the national girls collaborative project.
I interviewed Tara Armstrong, a study hall instructor at Northwest Jr. High. Armstrong got a divorce with her wife years ago and now lives in an apartment with her dog walter. Armstrong expressed the troubles of being a single woman trying to make a living. “When women are single and successful in movies they are represented in extremes that don’t exist in the real world for the majority of women. But the pay gap- that extreme is real. Don’t believe me? Look up top 50 high earners employed by the UIHC. Last I looked majority were dudes.”
Pay isn’t the only hardship for women though, most of of the problem starts with their early childhood. We raise young girls with stories of a lonely woman finding a man and everything changes. Although it may not seem like it at first, these fantasies teach girls that you can’t be happy without a man. “The #metoo movement is trying to help give voices to women who’ve been silenced by oppressive situations, but will it make a better future for those of us who wish to remain single and refuse to settle down in what society has long portrayed as the common goal?” says Armstrong.

But in the end what really matters? Is it material status? Social status? Succumbing to social pressure or maintaining a healthy level of resistance in that you as an individual were determined to make a change here on earth. Perhaps we owe those stereotypes singles more than a few cat cliches, maybe we should thank them for showing us that individuality is still a valuable asset to own and maintain when were sold on the ideas of others.