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Spinster is a term referring to an unmarried woman who is older than what is perceived as the prime age range during which women usually marry. It can also indicate that a woman is considered unlikely to ever marry. [1] . The term originally denoted a woman whose occupation was to spin. A synonymous term is old maid. [2] .
Where does the term 'spinster' come from? Spoiler: patriarchy. A single woman who is old enough to be married but isn't—and isn't likely to get married—is sometimes called a spinster. The word has an old-fashioned and dated feel to it, and because of that it can carry a whiff of impoliteness in certain circumstances.
Apr 24, 2015 · Hired because of their singleness, not despite it, spinsters were at first considered “high-minded, upstanding pillars of the community” and eventually became cultural icons. But when social hygiene and the study of sexuality came into vogue at the turn of the twentieth century, spinsters came under fire.
noun. spin· ster ˈspin (t)-stər. Synonyms of spinster. 1. : a woman whose occupation is to spin. 2. archaic : an unmarried woman of gentle family. b. : an unmarried woman and especially one past the common age for marrying. 3. : a woman who seems unlikely to marry. spinsterhood. ˈspin (t)-stər-ˌhu̇d. noun. spinsterish. ˈspin (t)-st (ə-)rish.
Apr 15, 2019 · Taking back the term “spinster” starts with a hard “no”—no, that pitiful stereotype is not who we are. But then, who are we, really? Happily, there is more than one answer. I’m going to describe...
Sep 14, 2017 · September 14, 2017. An unknown woman spinning, circa 1900. Library of Congress. On this day in 2005, England and Wales stopped using the terms “bachelor” and “spinster” to describe unmarried...
Oct 12, 2022 · What is a “spinster”? If whispers of the word conjure images of a frumpy, grumpy woman or a despondent Bridget Jones-esque archetype, wailing about the tragedy of her singledom and desperation to find a man to marry before she dies by herself, you aren’t alone. And that, in itself, is the problem.
1 day ago · Literature. Overview. spinster. Quick Reference. In current usage, the term carries overtones of a stereotypical woman in this situation who is regarded as prissy and repressed. Spinster is first recorded in late Middle English in the sense of ‘a woman who spins’, and in early use it was appended to the names of women to denote their occupation.
Dec 2, 2019 · Spinster, old maid or self-partnered – why words for single women have changed through time. Published: December 1, 2019 10:24pm EST. In an interview with Vogue in 2019, actress Emma Watson...
Dec 2, 2019 · Spinster, singlewoman or singleton: None of those terms openly refers to an absent partner. But self-partnered evokes a missing better half. It says something about our culture and gender expectations that despite her status and power, a woman like Watson still feels uncomfortable simply calling herself single. *****.
