Comments on: Spinster by Choice http://www.rabe.org/spinster-by-choice/ Sharing ideas and provocations on living single while happy. Reflecting on the social psychology of stereotypes and other cultural phenomena. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:46:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: N http://www.rabe.org/spinster-by-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-5687 N Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:04:18 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=834#comment-5687 Actually I read somewhere that spinsters worldwide are reclaiming this word. I have personally called myself a spinster from the age of 17, I don't know, but I really like this world. I mean there has got to be something that differentiates a spinster from a "single woman", who could be unmarried, widowed or divorced. And single could also refer to some1 who is desperately looking for a man to get married, who is maybe advertising that she is available!! We spinsters are not like that, we have chosen not to get married. "Spinster" sort of tells the world that <i>Hey!! I am NOT available!!</i> So I guess, single by choice equals Spinster ?? And ya, I am the typical spinster- self righteous and cat loving, and have no qualms about it :-) !! Actually I read somewhere that spinsters worldwide are reclaiming this word. I have personally called myself a spinster from the age of 17, I don’t know, but I really like this world. I mean there has got to be something that differentiates a spinster from a “single woman”, who could be unmarried, widowed or divorced.
And single could also refer to some1 who is desperately looking for a man to get married, who is maybe advertising that she is available!!
We spinsters are not like that, we have chosen not to get married. “Spinster” sort of tells the world that Hey!! I am NOT available!!
So I guess, single by choice equals Spinster ??

And ya, I am the typical spinster- self righteous and cat loving, and have no qualms about it :-) !!

]]> By: J Anon http://www.rabe.org/spinster-by-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-5403 J Anon Fri, 13 May 2011 16:26:00 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=834#comment-5403 I call myself a spinster it didnt accour to me that others called themselves it too. Im 28 been single for every glorious year and have been calling myself a spinster since the ripe young age of 13 and ever since I have been bombarded by people telling me that finding someone will makes a person complete which in a round about way they are telling me that I am incomplete because I dont have a partner. But I enjoy my single life I have been able to do what I want when I want without having to answer to anyone. I dont sit at home longing for the warmth of another body nor do I feel incomplete. In all honesty I dont know why people are so confused with single people because my friends both male and female are always complaining about partners or arguing with their partners which has always been somthing that does not appeal to me. I embrace the title Spinster I feel that people only have a problem with singletons who enjoy single life because they cant fathom the concept of contentment with yourself and freedom of choice. But this of course is just my opinion I may even sound like a loony to some Oh and I dont like cats Im a dog person always have been always will be I love reptiles too :) I call myself a spinster it didnt accour to me that others called themselves it too.

Im 28 been single for every glorious year and have been calling myself a spinster since the ripe young age of 13 and ever since I have been bombarded by people telling me that finding someone will makes a person complete which in a round about way they are telling me that I am incomplete because I dont have a partner.
But I enjoy my single life I have been able to do what I want when I want without having to answer to anyone. I dont sit at home longing for the warmth of another body nor do I feel incomplete.

In all honesty I dont know why people are so confused with single people because my friends both male and female are always complaining about partners or arguing with their partners which has always been somthing that does not appeal to me.
I embrace the title Spinster I feel that people only have a problem with singletons who enjoy single life because they cant fathom the concept of contentment with yourself and freedom of choice. But this of course is just my opinion I may even sound like a loony to some

Oh and I dont like cats Im a dog person always have been always will be I love reptiles too :)

]]> By: Dani http://www.rabe.org/spinster-by-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-3381 Dani Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:32:03 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=834#comment-3381 Actually, I think a man who is unmarried and childless past the age of 35 = bachelor; playboy Actually, I think a man who is unmarried and childless past the age of 35 = bachelor; playboy

]]> By: Anon http://www.rabe.org/spinster-by-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-3373 Anon Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:15:50 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=834#comment-3373 A man who is unmarried and childless past the age 35 = gay A woman who is unmarried and childless past the age 35 = future crazy cat lady A man who is unmarried and childless past the age 35 = gay

A woman who is unmarried and childless past the age 35 = future crazy cat lady

]]> By: onely http://www.rabe.org/spinster-by-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-2682 onely Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:30:39 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=834#comment-2682 Oh, I was just telling someone on Onely (I think it was Singlutionary) that Spinster used to mean "a woman who spins", but I couldn't remember where I heard that. Now I remember--I read it here, just a couple days ago. Oh, my short-term memory. Anyway, thanks for the low-down Rachel. It's timely because I just finished reading a terrific book, "travels in endangered languages." The author is amazing, and sensitive to linguistic nuance and the power of words. However, he blithely described one of his interviewees as a "spinster aunt of X", when her marriage status had absolutely no bearing on their interview. I loved his book and was SO disappointed to see this usage. However, if even someone as aware of the power of language as he is wields the "s" word so casually, then this just shows how ensconced singlism is in our society--so insidious that people just can't even see it. Yikes. I might write the author a letter. Not a nastygram, because I did love his book, just a "heads up" note. I'll do that in all my spare time, or in my dreams. Christina Oh, I was just telling someone on Onely (I think it was Singlutionary) that Spinster used to mean “a woman who spins”, but I couldn’t remember where I heard that. Now I remember–I read it here, just a couple days ago. Oh, my short-term memory.

Anyway, thanks for the low-down Rachel. It’s timely because I just finished reading a terrific book, “travels in endangered languages.” The author is amazing, and sensitive to linguistic nuance and the power of words. However, he blithely described one of his interviewees as a “spinster aunt of X”, when her marriage status had absolutely no bearing on their interview.

I loved his book and was SO disappointed to see this usage. However, if even someone as aware of the power of language as he is wields the “s” word so casually, then this just shows how ensconced singlism is in our society–so insidious that people just can’t even see it. Yikes.

I might write the author a letter. Not a nastygram, because I did love his book, just a “heads up” note. I’ll do that in all my spare time, or in my dreams.

Christina

]]> By: Rachel http://www.rabe.org/spinster-by-choice/comment-page-1/#comment-2542 Rachel Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:05:07 +0000 http://www.rabe.org/?p=834#comment-2542 I wonder how long it'll take before the script of Numbers will be getting a matrimanical make-over! The idea behind using "spinster" to describe ourselves would be to counteract the negativity associated with that label because we're spinsters who aren't "home alone reading and not having any friends." I wonder how long it’ll take before the script of Numbers will be getting a matrimanical make-over!

The idea behind using “spinster” to describe ourselves would be to counteract the negativity associated with that label because we’re spinsters who aren’t “home alone reading and not having any friends.”

]]>