escapades of the elusive kat

Spinster is considered derogatory because it implies that a woman is a failure because she's never (or not yet) married, or that she's unlikely to ever marry (too ugly or fat or whatever -- no man (or woman) will ever want her!!). Since women are now free to live their lives as they please (more or less), including not marrying, or marrying later in life (I was 40 when I got married), spinster shouldn't be used. Just say you're single, or not in a relationship (because one can be in a committed relationship, but not bother with the whole marriage thing).