Contemporary Spinsterhood in Britain: Gender, Partnership Status and Social Change

Simpson, R. (2009) Contemporary Spinsterhood in Britain: Gender, Partnership Status and Social Change. VDM Verlag: Saarbrücken, Germany. ISBN 9783639096873

Abstract

This monograph examines the experiences and meanings of contemporary spinsterhood for a particular group of women in Britain. An increase in singleness is an important aspect of recent familial transformations. This monograph looks at changes over time in singleness, not living with a co-residential partner, and considers the significance of partnership status in the context of wider social change. Exploring life histories of never-married single women, including mothers who 'opted into' solo motherhood via artificial insemination and adoption, it consider continuities and changes in relation to social networks and caring relationships, education and employment experiences, and gendered subjectivities. This exploration of the actualities of contemporary women's lives demonstrates that gender and partnership status continue to structure the possibilities and strategies available to women in both the private and the public sphere. However, their varying experiences also demonstrate significant material and cultural changes, changes which have profound implications for the practices and discursive possibilities for contemporary spinsters.

• Item Type: Books
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Simpson, Dr Roona
• Authors: Simpson, R.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Sociology Anthropology and Applied Social Sciences
• Publisher: VDM Verlag
• ISBN: 9783639096873