In the Middle Ages, the term “spinster” referred to women who spun thread for a living. These craftswomen were remarkable in their ability to support themselves at a time when women were generally limited to the roles of mother, wife, and nun.

A growing number of women today are choosing to stay single and embrace the power they can wield as women who do not prioritize the approval of men. They find fulfillment in their professions, hobbies, and close friendships with other women. I hope this book will serve as the beginning of a reclamation of the term “spinster” and a reminder of the power women can hold both as individuals and as a collective.

This collection of texts illustrates the problems and opportunities presented by spinsterhood. Written primarily by women, they were chosen to introduce the history of single women, show how they are depicted in media, and demonstrate the kind of power they have wielded as women’s rights expanded over time.

Stitches through each page of the book reflect the emotional tension associated with each section. The number of lines increases with each chapter up until the section on women in popular culture. At that point, they begin to decrease as the texts transition from explaining the problem to pointing toward a possible solution.

This project brings together carefully selected texts and images in an attempt to reclaim the label of “spinster” and celebrate the possibilities of a world where each woman lives for her own distinct self.

This thesis project contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I have determined this to be "fair use" of the copyrighted material as referenced and provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. If you wish to use any copyrighted material from this document for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain express permission from the copyright owner.