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Abstract
Why do some Filipina women choose to remain unmarried even as they grow older? Spinsters are single, unmarried women whose age are 35 and older and most commonly known as "matandang dalaga" in the Philippines. In this study, data are obtained from five (5) old, single women that are selected through purposive sampling and were subjected to online and face-to-face interviews. Open-ended inquiries and subsequent what, why, and how questions are used in semi-structured interviews to get direct, rich, and detailed information from the participants. Their life experiences revealed three major themes which were (1) The Family Keeper; (2) The Career Woman; and (3) The Spiritually Committed. Reasons for singleness were caused by learned lessons from family and friends, and being single by choice, while challenges include being the talk of town, pressure from the environment and regrets, shouldering familial responsibilities and finances, and not a challenge at all. Views towards their life were seen as happiness as a choice and self as a top priority. Overall, this study concluded that a single woman 's worth is not defined by the presence of a significant partner but rather how she views herself as an important and competent individual in the society.
Keywords: spinsters; old single unmarried woman; independent; choice; fate
Introduction
Why do some Filipina women choose to remain unmarried even as they grow older? In Filipino culture, these women are often referred to as "matandang dalaga," or spinsters-unmarried women aged 35 and above (Watkins, 1984). Several factors contribute to this decision, ranging from personal and societal circumstances to life choices. Reasons include being childless (Brooke, 1981), experiencing poor health (Van de Walle, 1977), prioritizing familial responsibilities or pursuing religious vocations like becoming nuns (Hufton, 1984), personal choice (Freeman & Klaus, 1984), or mere chance (Shahrak et al., 2021).
The term "spinster" historically used in the 14th century to describe women who earned a living spinning thread, later took on more meaning. By the modern era, the label became associated with older, unmarried women deemed unlikely to marry or have children (Howe, 2015). As Bolick (2015) observed, in societies where marriage is considered a woman's ultimate goal, the term carries negative connotations, casting spinsters as pitiable or undesirable anomalies.
This study aims to...