Emma Watson Rejects Taboo Around Singlehood, Says She Is ‘Self-Partnered’

Being single sucks.

No, I don’t say that thinking that with being single, one is lonely, in need of affection, and “lagging behind” while all the suitable dating prospects are quickly being grabbed. Singlehood sucks not because of a single person’s own feelings, but because of the various societal pressures they are put through.

For the longest time, the term ‘single’ has had attached to itself a negative connotation. Imagine other such ‘single’ terms like ‘divorced’, or ‘widowed’. There is a constant sense of stigma, we all know it. Like in India, it is a given that by the age of 30 a woman must be married and have her first child within 2-3 years of the marriage. If not, people start questioning the worth of the woman.

I also can’t even begin to think the amount of pressure guys must go through. They are expected to “settle down” and have a “secure career” by the time they are 30. But what if they are still trying to figure things out? What if they enjoy being single but are constantly picked on by their other friends? All this and more has led to people suffering from a decreasing sense of self-esteem and self-worth and they start believing that they will be “fulfilled” if only they are in a relationship.

However, thank god for Emma Watson whom we have grown up watching as Hermione Granger! In her recent interview with British Vogue, Emma manages to breakdown and downright abolish the negativity around being single. Instead, she termed it as being “self-partnered”. Now that’s got a positive ring to it, doesn’t it?

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Thank you to everyone who worked so hard on my British Vogue cover. ❤️🌸🌺

A post shared by Emma Watson (@emmawatson) on Nov 5, 2019 at 4:09am PST

She said:

“If you have not built a home, if you do not have a husband, if you do not have a baby, and you are turning 30, and you’re not in some incredibly secure, stable place in your career, or you’re still figuring things out…there’s just this incredible amount of anxiety. It took me a long time, but I’m very happy [being single]. I call it being self-partnered.”

And now, people on the internet have become a fan! They have taken to Twitter to express how grateful they are to Watson for coining a term which to some extent removes the stigma attached to singlehood, and emphasizes more on self-sufficiency.

https://twitter.com/LuxeGiorgio/status/1191735905180114945

https://twitter.com/law_patriotic/status/1191749435996246018

The takeaway from this piece isn't the term "self-partnered" but the fact that you can be a BAFTA recipient, UN goodwill ambassador, and beloved icon of a generation of women and people will still ask if you feel like a failure because you're 30 and not married with kids. https://t.co/pxSPUhWswH

— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) November 5, 2019

I'm taking myself out on a date tomorrow since I am amazing company. #SelfPartnered

— beyazmin. (@afrolatinax) November 6, 2019

https://twitter.com/SpongeBobCatz/status/1191722811666157570

https://twitter.com/_sophiedarling/status/1191788480319365120

Emma Watson: Makes a very valid point about the absurd pressures placed on women with regards to expectations over family/partners and that being single is fine.

The internet: #SelfPartnered!! LOL!!1!

— Jim Ross 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎞️ (@JimGR) November 5, 2019

https://twitter.com/Kalixplore/status/1191717042522591232

She wouldn't have to coin a new term if there weren't such a stigma about the term "single". That's her point, that people need to stop thinking you can't be happy and fulfilled if you're not in a relationship. #EmmaWatson could definitely be in one if she wanted. #SelfPartnered https://t.co/FB6YoQJ98u

— Stephen Monteith World's Greatest Social Distancer (@Stephens_Site) November 6, 2019

Single is the new couple! Thank you @EmmaWatson for empowering single women! #SelfPartnered #EmmaWatson https://t.co/t52uTICOdV

— Isolde (Kate Hatch) (@Isoldefiction) November 5, 2019

https://twitter.com/LucyCarrWright/status/1191849581539188736

I am a happy, "self-partnered" almost 31-year-old. Thanks, @EmmaWatson for helping all of us formerly known singles to find more truthful and empowering verbiage. #SelfPartnered #EmmaWatson https://t.co/0mMCZhs99x

— celinamunoz (@chelischula12) November 5, 2019

Can we not appriciate the fact that #EmmaWatson is calling out old age Patriarchal Pressure tactics from Conservative standards of perfection?

Which are inherently Sexist, Racist and based upon a detachment of self Love to serve Capitalism? No?

Okay ahbshxnsh😂 #SelfPartnered pic.twitter.com/yswBDwN724

— BlackedHatGuy (@BlackedHatGuy) November 5, 2019

You can watch her entire interview with Vogue here:

It is sad how society wants us to conform to certain roles and standards, and fit ourselves into small defined boxes that can’t even contain our entire personalities. Singlehood should be less about hunting for a partner to settle down and more about enjoying and celebrating your own self however you want to!