I was called a Spinster at work today, I was really offended.

[Seahorses12]

I do one day a week volunteer work, and today a woman I work with who I don't know very well asked me if I was married or had children. I replied that I wasn't and didn't have kids and she said disparagingly 'Oh, so your a Spinster. I have an aunt who's a Spinster.' It's such a horrible, judgemental term with negative connotations. No one has ever used it to my face before. I have a reasonably successful career behind me and I like my independance. I've had long term relationships with men but I'm currently single and have a lot of single friends. I feel belittled by this comment. AIBU?

I've never married or had kids by choice. I don't like kids, and marriage was invented by men to control women. I don't like men, so I never date anyone.

I'd be highly offended at the vile sexist comment from that old witch.

I've been called a spinster many times over the years. I hate the word ''spinster'', it makes us sound like haggard old women in scarves and shawls with saggy stockings. But unmarried childless men are called bachelors!

Tell the old fogey to sod off and mind her own business.

Also, I'd much rather be a " spinster " than a bored submissive housewife!

If we do need a term I will take “bachelorette” over “spinster”.

Thanks.

Although the colleague is still a weirdo.

Haven’t RTFT so apologies if already mentioned : yes I agree, spinster is a demeaning term but I saw something recently about the history of the term - spinning wool was an occupation available to the elderly, the infirm and to unmarried women ( hence the use of the term to describe unmarried women), and potentially a lucrative one when, making a living in any constructive way was barred to such individuals. So actually, we could claim it as a feminist term perhaps?