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
Same-sex marriage in Virginia one for a year, the person paying spousal support no longer has to do so. In the approximately 10-month period subsequent to same-sex marriage being legal in Virginia (October 6, 2014 to August 31, 2015), a total of 3,598 marriage certificates were filed for same-sex couples, making up 5.27% of all marriage certificates filed in the state in that time. The three most popular city localities for same-sex marriages were Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond. A May 2011 Washington Post poll found that 47% of Virginians favored the legalization of same-sex marriage, while 43% opposed it and 10% had no