Single and Psycho - Caroline Young

Why has popular culture spent so long portraying single women as lonely, desperate, dangerous or emotionally unstable?
 
From the unforgettable characters of Fatal Attraction and Fleabag to the music of Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, the image of the troubled single woman has appeared throughout literature, film, television and music for generations. But where did these stereotypes originate, and why do they continue to influence how women are viewed today?
 
In Single & Psycho, Caroline Young takes readers on a fascinating journey through the history of one of popular culture's most persistent clichés. Exploring everything from Victorian attitudes towards unmarried women to Hollywood thrillers, modern celebrity culture and contemporary debates surrounding marriage and motherhood, she examines how society has shaped the stories we tell about women who live outside traditional expectations.
 
Combining cultural history, sharp social commentary and personal reflections on her own experiences of being single and navigating infertility, Young challenges familiar assumptions and explores the real-world consequences of these portrayals.
Thought-provoking, insightful and refreshingly honest, Single & Psycho invites readers to reconsider the way single women have been represented, judged and misunderstood throughout history.
 
Perfect for readers interested in feminism, popular culture, film, social history and the changing expectations placed on women, this is a compelling exploration of the stories society tells about singlehood — and why it's time to question them.