Gender egalitarianism, education and life-long singlehood

In this study we use multilevel modeling to examine how gender relations influence life–long singlehood across educational strata in Europe. We focus on women and men aged 40-55 who have never experienced a co-residential partnership. Our results reveal reverse U-shaped relationship between levels of gender equity and singlehood: in countries where traditional gender norms still prevail as well as in countries where gender symmetric norms are broadly diffused throughout the population, we observe low levels of non-partnering. At the same time incidence of singlehood is comparatively high in the countries which undergo transitional stage from traditional to egalitarian gender regime. The highest risks of singlehood correspond to the intermediate levels of gender equity. Our results also show relevant differences in the association of gender egalitarianism on singlehood across levels of education for each gender.