Conference turris::womannotes-v1

    Because bachelor means a man who has never married and spinster
    means a woman who has never married. The use of the later is
    somewhat old fashioned but still correct. This was discussed
    in a least one note in the topic titled "Dont Call Me Girl"
    (note 148) Bonnie

    Re .0
    
    Just wondering, what was the date of that marriage?
    
    Elizabeth
    

    It may be correct usage, but the implications of the words "bachelor"
    and "spinster" are very different in our culture.  I wonder what
    my own marriage license says (not even sure where it is, offhand
    - safe defposit box, maybe?)??  Is there a non-negative-implication
    way to say "unmarried woman" in one word?  "maiden"? (I think we
    already rejected that one in some other note)
    
    Come to think of it, I suppose mine says "divorcee" - sort of a
    legalese way of permanently labelling the records of people who
    didn't get it right the first time, I guess )-:.

    SNM - single, never married

    My marriage license refers to us as "bride" and "groom" (what could
    be more appropriate?)  It's a fairly recent one (Oct '86) and it
    was issued in CT, so maybe the time and place make a difference.
    
    Lynne
    

    "The law is a ass!" [Dickens] - in this case I suspect it is a male
    ass.
    
    The words used in a legal document such as a marriage licence are defined
    in the enabling legislation of the issuing body. This legislation in
    most states is probably at least a century old, so are you surprised
    that obsolescent wording is still used? (they probably refer to a widow
    or widower as a "relict" also)
    
    /. Ian .\

    Three hundred and fifty years ago in Massachusetts, "bachelor" may
    not have been such a great thing either: everybody was urged
    to marry and procreate.  Otherwise they were shirking their duties.
    "The City on the Hill" isn't enough--we need to know that our example
    withstood the test of time and impressed future generations, and
    the only way to do that is to have future generations of our own.
    
    re: .0  Obviously, she spins and he has a degree.  :-)

    At several times, and several places in history bachelors have been
    heavily taxed for their temerity in not marrying. Even today the tax
    structure is unfair on unmarried people (of both sexes).
    
    As for bachelor implying a degree: originally the term meant something
    akin to "learner" (as in "bachelor knight" - somebody training for
    knighthood). The degree of bachelor or <arts or whatever> implied the
    end of basic study and the start of serious study: a master's degree
    was the first "real degree" (allowing the holder to teach).
    
    so presumably a bachelor is a youth learning about manhood :-)
    
    /. Ian .\

    re -1:
    
    The tax structure is unfair on *unmarried* people?  What *are* you
    talking about?!  That's complete nonsense (at least here in the US).
    My SO and I would be paying *thousands* of dollars more if we were
    married.
    
    	-Ellen

    Tax structures are inherently unfair, period.

    re .9:
    
    He is probably not considering a two income household. A married
    person pays far less in taxes than a single person with the same
    income (as long as the marriage partner has no income).
    
                                                   
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    Besides, Ellen, doesn't the IRS really want you to declare yourselves
    as POSSLGlQs so that you can be taxed at the same rate as married
    folk?

    I thought that acronym and declaration was only in the census bureau.
    Is it really an IRS classification (and requirement)?
    
                                                   
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