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In Defense of Being a Spinster
Single and not ready to mingle is OK
I’m 26 years old this year and very (almost horrendously) single. However, by today’s standards, I’m still in my “relationship prime” with plenty of time to get married. The average age of marriage for the modern woman is somewhere between 28–32 years old.
Even 100 years ago, it would seem odd by this time in my life if I didn’t have some prospects — even if I wasn’t married or engaged. In the Regency era (or Jane Austen’s time period), I’d be well on my way to spinsterhood in the fashion of Charlotte Lucas, who is 27 at the beginning of Pride and Prejudice.
For reference, the term “Spinster” is defined as a woman who is not married, especially an older woman who is not likely to marry. The term comes from a woman’s occupation to spin wool, which was mostly done by unmarried women. It often carries negative connotations, while the male term “bachelor” does not.
Yes, these are things I think about sometimes. But more often lately, I’ve been embracing the idea of my potential spinster status. The more I daydream about the life I’d like to have — when I can finally afford to move out of my parents’ house — the more I find myself alone in these dreams. I like to imagine a cozy cottage with a large garden with maybe some sheep or goats and a donkey for company…
