The Need For Sologamy
The Need For Sologamy
The Issue
With growing awareness around mental health and self-worth in Canada, this petition calls for recognition of self-commitment as a valid and meaningful life choice. Many people who identify as “single” are often viewed as incomplete or waiting for a partner, despite living full, independent, and intentional lives. This perception can contribute to stigma and diminish the value of self-reliance and personal growth. The concept of self-marriage, or sologamy, represents a commitment to one’s own well-being, growth, and accountability. For some, it is a way of acknowledging personal struggles they have overcome and affirming their dedication to themselves moving forward. This petition asks the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to explore formal recognition, whether symbolic or legal, of self-commitment ceremonies as a legitimate expression of personal autonomy and identity. Recognizing such commitments would not diminish traditional marriage, but rather expand the ways individuals can define fulfillment and responsibility in their own lives. For those who dedicate their lives to personal or spiritual paths, this recognition could also reflect the depth of that commitment in a meaningful and public way. Everyone deserves the freedom to define what a committed, meaningful life looks like, including a commitment to oneself. Nearly 3 in 10 households in Canada are single-person households, showing that independent living is already a major part of modern society. Research shows that social pressure around being single can influence personal decisions and self-worth, suggesting a need to normalize independence. At the same time, stigma remains a serious issue, with up to 95% of Canadians experiencing mental health-related stigma and 72% reporting negative impacts on their self-perception. Despite this, less than half of Canadians report having excellent or very good mental health. Research also shows that social pressure around being single can influence personal decisions and self-worth. These realities highlight the need to recognize and validate alternative forms of commitment, including a commitment to oneself. Not to mention the possible spousal benefits this could offer to one person, access to smoother tax brackets allowing a single person to lower their tax burden, life insurance, workplace discounts on joint health coverage that one person could benefit from, the possibilities are endless. As single person households continue to grow demographically, the goal is to spread awareness and to make living alone supported without judgement from society, imagine what this could do for single parents, people struggling financially as a result of divorce, or even young adults who are struggling to move out due to the lack of support from our government.
Cited sources:
-https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2023001/article/00011-eng.htm
-https://www.healthing.ca/depression/depression-in-canada-stats-impact-and-resources
-https://wealthnorth.ca/personal-finance/cost-of-living-alone-canada/
-https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-societal-cost-of-the-marriage-decline
-https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/28/us/sologamy-self-marriage-women-cec/
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The Issue
With growing awareness around mental health and self-worth in Canada, this petition calls for recognition of self-commitment as a valid and meaningful life choice. Many people who identify as “single” are often viewed as incomplete or waiting for a partner, despite living full, independent, and intentional lives. This perception can contribute to stigma and diminish the value of self-reliance and personal growth. The concept of self-marriage, or sologamy, represents a commitment to one’s own well-being, growth, and accountability. For some, it is a way of acknowledging personal struggles they have overcome and affirming their dedication to themselves moving forward. This petition asks the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to explore formal recognition, whether symbolic or legal, of self-commitment ceremonies as a legitimate expression of personal autonomy and identity. Recognizing such commitments would not diminish traditional marriage, but rather expand the ways individuals can define fulfillment and responsibility in their own lives. For those who dedicate their lives to personal or spiritual paths, this recognition could also reflect the depth of that commitment in a meaningful and public way. Everyone deserves the freedom to define what a committed, meaningful life looks like, including a commitment to oneself. Nearly 3 in 10 households in Canada are single-person households, showing that independent living is already a major part of modern society. Research shows that social pressure around being single can influence personal decisions and self-worth, suggesting a need to normalize independence. At the same time, stigma remains a serious issue, with up to 95% of Canadians experiencing mental health-related stigma and 72% reporting negative impacts on their self-perception. Despite this, less than half of Canadians report having excellent or very good mental health. Research also shows that social pressure around being single can influence personal decisions and self-worth. These realities highlight the need to recognize and validate alternative forms of commitment, including a commitment to oneself. Not to mention the possible spousal benefits this could offer to one person, access to smoother tax brackets allowing a single person to lower their tax burden, life insurance, workplace discounts on joint health coverage that one person could benefit from, the possibilities are endless. As single person households continue to grow demographically, the goal is to spread awareness and to make living alone supported without judgement from society, imagine what this could do for single parents, people struggling financially as a result of divorce, or even young adults who are struggling to move out due to the lack of support from our government.
Cited sources:
-https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2023001/article/00011-eng.htm
-https://www.healthing.ca/depression/depression-in-canada-stats-impact-and-resources
-https://wealthnorth.ca/personal-finance/cost-of-living-alone-canada/
-https://ifstudies.org/blog/the-societal-cost-of-the-marriage-decline
-https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/28/us/sologamy-self-marriage-women-cec/
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The Decision Makers
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Petition created on May 2, 2026