MAY I SPEAK TO THE MALE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD?

No, you may not! Because not only is there NO male head of my household, but how dare you assume that the male is THE head of the household if there were!

This was asked to me by some telemarketer from a company I can't remember anymore. All I remember is being annoyed that they not only were disturbing me (how did they get my mobile #?), but that hey proceeded to consider my opinion (as the non-male head of the household) not initially valid for their sales pitch!

Maybe it's because I live in the NW where singlehood or unmarried relationships are the majority, but it seems to me that the idea of the "male head" and traditional nuclear family is a thing of the past. I'm not saying this is either good or bad, but as a single 20-something myself, I am happy to be experiencing the options

My surprise at this tele-encounter prompted me to watch the documentary *single, because the style of questioning that continued made me seriously consider how society's structure is changing, and along with it, the ego.

From the film, I learned that, not surprisingly, Americans now spend more time in their adult life single than married. There are several factors; most people are marrying later, high numbers of divorces, longer life spans (leading to widowhood). Singlehood is no longer a transition state. It is marriage that is a transition time from one single life to another single life. Today, life is a buffet with many alternatives. And this is a worldwide revolution.

Of course, women have a lot to do with this. Because there has been such a change in the role of women, there are less reasons for women to get hitched. Also, society tells us that it's all about the self... self-gratification, individualism, personal accomplishments. So, why would anyone today want to give that up to make room for another ego?

One woman said that delayed marriage is a sign that most Americans really value marriage and don't want to enter it lightly - just because society says they should. Divorce rates are already lowering because of this trend.

So society, "marriage isn't the only game in town". And I really do like games.

And that is why I told the telemarketer "how dare you assume there is a male head!" And continued my hotheaded rage for the remainder of his attempt to communicate.