UGLY PORTRAYAL OF A SPINSTER

This came up when I put the word SPINSTER

into the search engine... 

She is unsmiling and therefore portrayed as unhappy.  The term comes from one of the earliest opportunities women had who were "skilled labor." Spinning yarn and thread to be woven into clothing, pre Industrial Age machinery.  Now a fine and rare art. The term indicated that the poor woman would have to earn her own living.  Though the clothing is from the pre 1920's age of beginning liberation, today the term SPINSTER is still used to describe women who remain unmarried - with a negative judgement of them for their lack of conformity to the norms. Bachlorette is an improvement. Never Married No Kids - NMNK - is the best term for women and men who remain unmarried and childless.

Things have changed though.  

It used to be that a woman who showed her intelligence was an undesirable partner.  As a result education opportunities were limited or nonexistent. The term "BLUESTOCKING" was used for women who showed their intelligence. Women were raised to be dependent and go into marriages they could not escape.  What a horrible way to be forced into 'faithfulness' and 'loyalty.

Even elite women went to school only to be turned into wives and mothers.  A little needlepoint.  A little French.  But not math or science.

Now so many are depending on themselves and so many are the sole earners supporting and raising children. More men are looking to be stay at home dads and be supported by their wives who have education and careers. 

C 2023  Never Married No Kids - BlogSpot

MY CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY FOR ONE (and a DOG)

If I could have ANYTHING for Christmas, it would be to get away for a week or two with my dog, somewhere where I know no one, no one is going to bother me, and if I really feel like chatting I can take a long walk to a coffee house to meet people and then go home alone.

I could ALMOST pull this off in the city if I didn't have my dog.  Since we have no yard, I must take her for a walk down the street a few times a day to do her business.  A little chit chat with other dog owners doesn't really bother me but I don't know how to ignore friends when I see them.  It's just that I would like to NOT SPEAK, to not use my vocal chords, and enjoy RELATIVE SILENCE, which is so rare these days.

I think I could do this for a week or two without feeling lonely.

Instead we will have our citified holiday.  I plan to make a whole chicken with apple and shallot stuffing in a slow cooker and eat it with rice, cranberry sauce, and a couple drinks.  I bought RUM which I haven't had for years, coconut milk and pineapple juice and nutmeg, and will try a drink recipe made from those ingredients. 

My dog is so funny.  I do slow cooking at least once a week and my dog has to smell the cooking all day.  When I come through the door she is excited and practically attaches herself to my ankle going from room to room so that when I start putting the slow cooked food on a plate I won't forget her.

Of course I share, mindful of the foods on the taboo list for dogs.

She mostly has dry kibble.

This year though I bought her a little SALMON and already she has her new BLUE PUPPY DOG to play with.  She shows off how she has been playing with it so that I know she knows it is hers.

Slowly, I'm easing into the holidays with some BOOKS to read in the evening while me and the dog linger under blankets together.

What my dog does all day when I'm not home, I don't know.

My friend who put a BabyCam on her dogs so she could see them from work said hers mostly slept.

I suspect mine mostly does that too.