"The notion of the single man began in the 1950's. The idea of the bachelor as a separate life was new and obscure"

Hugh Hefner's quote talks to the altering social standards of the 1950s. Prior to this time, the concept of a single man living a different life was not extensively accepted. The 1950s saw a shift in attitudes towards single males, with the development of the bachelor as an unique lifestyle. This was mainly due to the influence of Hugh Hefner, who established the iconic Playboy magazine in 1953. Hefner's magazine and lifestyle promoted the concept of the single man as a preferable and independent figure. This shift in attitudes towards single guys was a major milestone in the history of gender functions and social norms. It enabled males to live a life of freedom and self-reliance, without the requirement to conform to standard gender functions. Hefner's quote speaks to the power of his impact in altering the understanding of single men in the 1950s.