In the closely-knit rural society before the turn of the century, an unmarried adult was rare.The reason for any person's single status had to be an unfortunate one.Those who chose not to marry were considered abnormal, career obsessed, or homosexual.Those whose hands were never sought were lonely losers unattractive, handicapped, deviant.

　　本世纪以前，在人际关系密切的农村社会中，一个未婚成年人是罕见的。任何人单身必有其不幸的原因。那些选择不结婚的人会被人认为是异类、工作狂或同性恋。那些从未被人追求过的是孤寂的失败者… —一没有吸引力，有缺陷，举止异常。