Perception of singleness by highly educated and professional single women in Lagos, Nigeria

Increasing number of women in Nigeria are delaying marriage till age 30 when the likelihood of marriage is not only low but uncertain. Never married women age 30-34 for instance, increased from 5.2 percent in 1991 to 11.8 percent in 2006. In spite of the rising proportion of this category of single women, single womanhood continues to be seen as an aberration and a misfortune. This study examines the perception of singleness and womanhood by highly educated and professional always single women. Highly educated and professional women are trailblazers whose view on singleness is pertinent to the understanding of the current perception of singleness among women, and the likely future trend of single womanhood. Primary data were obtained from eighteen In-depth Interviews and two Focus Group Discussions with university-educated and professional single women age 30-48 in Lagos, Nigeria’s prime city.  Data analysis shows that all the subjects desire and value marriage, but would prefer permanent singlehood to a bad marriage. Three categories emerged on the subjects' concept of fulfilled womanhood. There are those who perceive fulfilled womanhood as equal to marriage and motherhood and are making effort to validate their womanhood through those means. The second group perceive fulfilled womanhood as not equal to marriage and motherhood, and are ready to remain permanently single, continue with their career, and adopt a child if necessary. The third group perceive fulfilled womanhood as not equal to marriage and motherhood, yet they do not view singleness as an alternative lifestyle. Validation of singleness as an alternative to marriage is vital in encouraging women to delay marriage and remain permanently single, two lifestyles that are fundamental in population control.