Feminist philosopher Mary Daly has this to say about the word "spinster" (1987): "a woman whose occupation is to Spin, to participate in the whirling movement of creation; one who has chosen her Self, who defines her Self by choice neither in relation to children nor to men; one who is Self-identified; a whirling dervish, Spiraling in New Time/Space."

Portrait of a Woman - Maarten van Heemskerck, 1529