Married Americans enjoy over 1,000 benefits and entitlements that are denied to nonmarital counterparts, including health insurance, immigration rights, tax privileges, and hiring policies. The federal government financially supports and incentivizes marriage, while social customs reinforce the idea that "marriage is best," often labeling those who are marriage-averse as "commitment-phobes." Despite this widespread prejudice, nonmarital individuals have not united to demand equality and inclusion. This book argues that this lack of mobilization stems from a troubled relationship with history. Just as women's history was once marginalized, nonmarital history has also been overlooked, obscuring the shared disenfranchisement and significant achievements of nonmarital people. By recovering their history, nonmarital individuals can gain self-awareness and challenge marriage-centric norms. The book highlights numerous luminaries who never married, showcasing how they have been influential in science, art, religion, and literature, often demonstrating remarkable courage in times of war. It envisions a society organized to recognize and validate diverse forms of love and family, urging those outside matrimony to learn their history and cultivate a nonmarital consciousness.
