status

Form filling the other day, and for the first time I found myself writing ''divorced'' in the box. Felt quite satisfied with that, as (tho I would never have sought a divorce had he not b*****ed off) I spent a lot of time, effort and money to achieve that aim.

Almost immediately however, I found myself thinking: is it anyone''s business? Arguably it''s irrelevant for most forms whether I am married or single (which is why I always used MS if forced to put something, and even then I resented having to give my gender where it was not important to the matter at hand.)

But now, even more of an issue? Whose business is it what manner of single I am? At what point if ever do I cease being divorced and simply revert to ''single''?

What do others feel about this transition? I think in some cases I am divorced and wear my scars with pride, other times I am just unencumbered with a partner i.e. single, and surely most of the time WHO CARES???

What do the rest of you do?

I always write "Single". I have never described myself as divorced (Unless asked of course). But your right. What business is it of anyone?

I suspect it mattered once apon a time. Like sex. What does it matter if your male of female on forms?

Hopefully martial status and sex will go the way of age. Not allowed to ask that now. Marshy.

Good point, why should it matter to anyone unless there is a pressing need to check (e.g. hospital admission or dating agency!)
And I''m with you on the Ms; I hope the Miss/Mrs distinction will disappear in the next generation

There was an article in The Guardian last weekend, (I think it was in the ''how to online date'' bit that runs in the Lifestyle section - way too early for me but it''s good to build your knowledge of these things up!) that posed the same question. If you put ''divorced'' on your online dating profile does it bring people to make assumptions about you. Broken maybe? Or, maybe the catalyst and so not to be trusted?

When my ''D'' Day arrives, I shall be just using ''single''. ''Divorced'' is a label I won''t be adopting! I didn''t take my husbands'' last name and have always used ''Ms''. I have found this most useful in the context of the breakup. It''s none of anyone''s business and I suspect that if you''re applying for things like a loan, it may actually be detrimental.