Before “spinster” meant “unmarried woman with too many cats,” it actually referred to women who made their own money (gasp!) and didn’t need a husband to survive. In this episode, we unravel the origins of the word spinster, the shifting attitudes toward single women, and the absolute gold that was Tit-Bits Magazine, which asked Victorian women why they weren’t married, and got some brutally honest, highly relatable answers. Spoiler: not much has changed. So grab your spindle and your many cats, and join us as we celebrate the spinsters who spun their own fate, no husband required!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES

Wikipedia - Spinster

Smithsonian - ‘Spinster’ and ‘Bachelor’ Were, Until 2005, Official Terms for Single People

Cosmopolitan - A brief history of the word "spinster" and how it's still used today

Awesome Inventions - An 1889 Magazine Asked Women Why They Think They’re Single. The Replies Were Hilarious

r/historicalromance on Reddit - Tit Bits Magazine 1889- asked Victorian Single ladies the reason for their spinsterhood - and they DID NOT COME TO PLAY ! Which reply is your most favourite ? (all 20 replies transcribed in the post)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.