FUTURIST PREDICTS MORE OLD MAIDS IN 21ST CENTURY

FUTURIST PREDICTS MORE OLD MAIDS IN 21ST CENTURY

NEW YORK (Wireless Flash) -- The future may be uncertain but there's one thing for sure -- there will be more old maids than ever before. That's according to futurist Marian Salzman, co-author of the new book, "Next: Trends for the Near-Future" (Overlook Press). Salzman says there are almost 43 million single women in America and she predicts the numbers will continue to rise in the next millennium. Many of today's old maids think it's sexy to be middle-aged and single thanks to role models like the vampy characters on HBO's "Sex in the City" and sexy forty-something celebs like Melanie Griffith. Salzman predicts many older bachelorettes will start behaving like old bachelors have for years -- by hooking up with much younger lovers a la Mrs. Robinson in "The Graduate." Even though it's becoming more acceptable to be an old maid, Salzman says there's still a big stigma against middle-aged single guys who still live with their mothers.