Being single or staying single is becoming more common these days for both women and men. In the western world, it is a choice of living for many. In Bangladesh, being single is more circumstantial rather than a choice. Two most generic reasons for being single are, not finding the right partner to live with, or getting a divorce. We would like to take a look at the hard facts of staying single; how the society is treating a single person, especially single woman. This is a huge area of discussion; therefore, we invite our readers to put their thoughts into this. I know a Bangladeshi woman, highly educated, never got married. I know another woman who was once married, now divorced. Both are independent, holding good professional positions in two different cities in the US. And yet, they both carefully avoid the Bengali communities in their areas. Because people would bad-mouth, talk against their backs only because they are single. Bangladeshi single women whether they live in Bangladesh or in the western countries, face similar difficulties. Whether she is unmarried or divorced, the society would try to blame her. If she is highly educated, the society would blame her education and independence for her single being. I was reading one of our bloggers’ comments on the previous discussion, When to get married: Before or after graduation? In the response no. six, our blogger made a good point: In many Asian and Middle-eastern cultures, an unmarried woman is called many bad names behind her back. She is treated like an outcast. She does not get any help from people of her own cultural/religious backgrounds. ….. Wouldn’t this world be a better place if they just showed some genuine compassion and care to an unmarried woman? Staying single is associated with many difficulties, both financial and emotional. Let’s not make it more difficult by adding social stigma to it. Single woman should not keep herself away from enjoying life. To all single women, please be outspoken, outgoing, get involved with things that you have always liked to do. Get involved in organizational and community activities! If you happen to find someone you can count on, take the share of your life with him. Finally, please be independent! No matter in what society you are in, try to get financial independence first. Rather than being at the mercy of the society, please take the charge of your own life; make your place stronger in the society! *********************************************************************** How does the nepalese community view single Nepalese women??