Jan MacVarish's latest paper, Understanding the 'Popularity' of Living Alone, contains the results of her 10 years' study of single women. The research looked at the representation and identity of single women: are they independent, responsible and strong social pioneers who are at the vanguard of gender change? Or do they really live up to the Bridget Jones stereotype of having unchanged bed sheets, an empty fridge and a morbid pre-occupation with dying alone, undiscovered and devoured by pet Alsatians? Laurie Taylor speaks to Jan MacVarish, researcher at the School of Sociology, University of Kent, about what she suggests is a powerful cultural prejudice that is willing the single woman into happiness alone and the disjunction between that and the way they are actually living their lives.