Spinsterhood seems only a public acknowledgement of what she has believed herself to be all along, a romantically untenable figure.
Again, as marriage was an essential rite for a woman's salvation, even a nominal marriage to a dying man was preferable to spinsterhood.
In the last few years (1971-75) the level of spinsterhood has remained virtually unchanged, but the nuptiality transition appears to have gathered momentum.
This low awareness can be attributed in par t to the transitional nature of spinsterhood and bachelorhood.
Besides marriage postponement, a higher level of spinsterhood may also occur, and this would be an effective factor in fertility reduction.
Margaret's tearful response shows how deeply entrenched is her internalization of spinsterhood.
Thus, further female marriage postponement, a higher level of spinsterhood, increased contraceptive use and emigration may be expected to play vital roles in restricting population growth in the coming years.
The resort to ' ' similarities ' ' comes close to implying that ' ' bachelorhood ' ' is a transcultural realm that can span decades and that can be defined, incidentally, in total isolation from ' ' spinsterhood.
