Single on Valentine’s Day and happily so
Single on Valentine's Day and happily so
Single and happy on Valentine’s Day/
anandaBGD via Getty Images Collections E+
Elizabeth Brake, Rice University
In this pandemic year, many Americans are focused on how to have a socially distanced romantic dinner or prepare the perfect date night at home.
There’s nothing wrong with celebrating romantic love, but the focus on such celebrations drowns out the voices of those who are fine as they are - single and happily so.
As I’ve argued in my research on the ethics and politics of the family, social practices that celebrate romance, while ignoring the joys of friendship and solitude, reflect widespread assumptions. One is that everyone is seeking a romantic relationship. The second is more value-laden...