Goodbye spinsters, hello "Swofties"

I've just discovered a term for a new demographic of over fifties: Swofties (Single Women Over Fifty).  It sounds as bad as yuppies, bobos, dinkies and scupies - but unfortunately it's not likely to die out as quickly, because this new demographic has risen by just over five per cent in the last 10 years.

According to a survey carried out by Opinium Research, over 600,000 older women in the UK are opting for the single life. A quarter of single women over 50 say they’ve never been happier, more than one in 10 say they have a great social life costing them in the region of £78 a month.  Many are also using social networking sites and actively dating.

How things have changed in the last forty years or so. Couple's didn't see an alternative to a miserable marriage, they just stayed together till the bitter end, "for the sake of the children" or for a bit of companionship in old age.  These days, perhaps because we're living longer and healthier lives, the idea of sticking with a loveless marriage out of obligation, is unthinkable.

And if, as a recent article in the UK press suggests, 60 is the new middle age,  it probably does make sense to have a relationship spring clean if things aren't looking too peachy.

It seems the stereotype of the "sad old spinster" is well and truly dead, with the new "Swofties" generation sweeping out the old to make the most of their so called "golden years". Good on them I say.