Single’s Movement Has a Slogan! February 20, 2012
Posted by Onely in Heteronormativity, Take action.Tags: single and happy, singles blog, singles discrimination, singles movement, singles slogan, singlism
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Copious Readers, let us know what you think of this for our Singles’ movement slogan (if I may be so bold):
Separate sex and state!
Advantage: If you pronounce it SeparAYTE, it has rhyme and rhythm.
Disadvantage: Some people might read it as SeparUT.
Advantage: It has “sex” in it.
Disadvantage: It has “sex” in it.
As our regular readers will recognize, the slogan reflects how many governments give arbitrary rights and privileges to married couples, at the expense of gays who cannot marry and, less famously, at the expense of single people. Yes, some companies or governments think of themselves as all progressive for providing some domestic partner benefits, but in doing so they’re just feeding back into the whole overdone trope of couple-privileging.
Moreover, “couple” is largely by default defined as two people who live together and have sex with each other on a regular basis. This prevents, or at least deters, two platonic females (for example) who live together, maybe share childcare responsibilities, and function as a married couple in all ways but one–dare I whip out the Kate & Allie reference? I do dare–from receiving or applying for domestic partner benefits.
This is why we think Separate sex from state is an appropriate slogan for progressive singles. Separate sex from state, and many other cultural prejudices about singles (selfish, lonely, always seeking “the one”) will fall away as well.
–Christina
P.S. If you watch the Kate & Allie episode, aired in 1984, you’ll see how they float the idea of “family can be defined many ways.” Yet over twenty years later, so many people (and institutions) are still acting as if the hetero couple unit is the be-all end-all of family. Shameful.
Onely.Org 
I’m not sure it’s specific enough. “Sex” could apply to many different groups in many different relationships. People probably wouldn’t think of singles when reading it.
That is the very beauty of it. Because state does inherently differentiate between many different groups based on sex. And nowhere is that prejudice more insidious and assumed ( a la “problem that has no name”) that with singles.
Sex and single in the same sentence, most will minds will associate with dating. We are already besieged with that mentality.
I’m not a writer, but we need to present ourselves correctly. We are the silent majority. We must present as Unified, but independent, stable, responsible contributors to society. I do feel oppressed, by two for one coupons,travel opportunities, and other benefits from which we are excluded. I truly am happily single, there is nothing wrong with me.
Possible slogans:
Singles Seeking Equality
I quite like the term onely and think it should be part of the battlecry.
I need to do more political research before we stage a sit-in anywhere.
I am passionate about this cause, not just for me. But for the good of all. Let’s get this party started. I want to see a single presidential candidate of any gender or color in my lifetime.
Terry T.
Yay Terri (oops I spelled your name wrong in the first draft–Terry), so glad you like the term Onely. I agree that the sex-single pairing can be maladaptive. Definitely let us know if you progress to the sit-in stage.
Presenting the cause as an effort for the Good of All is crucial. Of course it’s primarily good for singles, at least at the outset, but any time you try to even the playing field for an oppressed minority group (although ironically, unmarrieds are actually the majority), society as a whole eventually benefits.
–CC