Spinster World War prevented many within a generation of women from experiencing romance and marriage, or having children. The image of the old spinster with a fading photo of her dead World War I soldier boyfriend on her fireplace mantel was common in films of the 1950s and 1960s. Likewise, in the American classic novel "Gone with the Wind" (1936) about the Civil War, numerous references are made to grieving fiancées, women who were "wanted, if not wed", and to the shortage of single, able-bodied (and thus "marriageable") men at war's end. In modern peacetime societies with wide opportunities for romance,
Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of Arts A Bachelor of Arts (BA or AB, from the Latin ' or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, sciences, or both. Bachelor of Arts programs generally take three to four years depending on the country, institution, and specific specializations, majors, or minors. The word ' (from the Latin ', a berry, and ', "of the bay laurel") should not be confused with ' (translatable as "gold-plated scepter" by using the Latina ' and '), which refers to the one- to two-year postgraduate "Bachelor of Arts with