Sheng nu cites studies that show that women are now breaking the tradition of "mandatory marriage" to have fewer children or marry later on in life. Other typologically similar terms that are still used in the modern lexicon of other countries and cultures show the concept has existed in some cases as far back as the 16th century. The term spinster was used to describe unmarried or single women of a marriageable age. It wasn't until 2004 when the Civil Partnership Act replaced the word spinster with "single" in the relationship history section of marriage certificates in the UK. Subsequently, at the
Certificates of Claim Certificates of Claim Certificates of Claim were a form of legal instrument by which the colonial administration of the British Central Africa Protectorate granted title to individuals, companies and others who claimed to have acquired land within the protectorate by grant or purchase. The proclamation of the British Central Africa Protectorate was endorsed by the Foreign Office in May 1891, and Harry Johnston as Commissioner and Consul-General examined and adjudicated on all claims that land had been acquired before or immediately after that date. Between late 1892 and Match 1894, Johnston issued 59 Certificates of Claim for land, each of