Single women will get us closer to gender equality, and that will take many forms, including a reimagining of what families entail and what it means to have a full female life. Also, their presence will force the government to support a population of independent women more capably.

In this quote, Rebecca Traister, an American author and journalist, argues that single women will play a crucial role in advancing gender equality. She suggests that the rise of independent women challenges traditional societal norms and redefines the concept of family and what it means to live a full female life. Traister’s statement implies that as single women gain more visibility and agency, they will reshape cultural expectations, highlighting alternative models of womanhood beyond marriage and motherhood.

Traister also argues that the growing presence of single women will pressure the government to more effectively support independent women. She suggests that as women continue to make up a larger and more influential part of the population, the state must adapt by providing better policies and resources that acknowledge and support the needs of women who are not dependent on traditional family structures. This could include changes in economic policy, healthcare, and social services to address the unique challenges faced by single women.

The quote speaks to the broader feminist argument that gender equality is not just about improving the lives of women within traditional frameworks but about expanding the possibilities for all women. By advocating for a reimagining of what families and female lives can look like, Traister is pushing for a more inclusive and flexible vision of equality—one that recognizes the diverse ways in which women can live, work, and thrive outside of conventional norms. This shift would, in turn, benefit society as a whole by fostering a more egalitarian and supportive environment for all women.

The origin of this quote comes from Rebecca Traister's work as a writer and commentator on feminism and women's issues. She has written extensively about the experiences of women in society, particularly focusing on the ways in which women’s evolving roles challenge traditional structures. Traister's book, All the Single Ladies, explores these themes in depth, celebrating the lives of single women and their power to influence societal and political change.