TY - JOUR
T1 - Going solo
T2 - findings from a survey of women aging without a partner and who do not have children
AU - Hafford-Letchfield, Trish
AU - Lambert, Nicky
AU - Long, Ellouise
AU - Brady, Dominique
PY - 2017/7/4
Y1 - 2017/7/4
N2 - Greater longevity in the UK population has led to the increasing diversity of women experiencing aging in a multitude of ways. Internationally, gender inequalities in aging are still relatively invisible within both government policy and everyday life for particular groups of women. This article explores the concept of women growing older “solo”—by which we mean women who find themselves nonpartnered and aging without children as they move into later life. We report on the findings from a mixed-methods survey of 76 solo women in the UK aged 50 years and over, used to provide a broader overview of the issues and challenges they face as they move into later life. Qualitative data from the survey captured respondents’ perspectives about the links between their relationships status and well-being in later life and highlighted specific cumulative disadvantages emerging for some women as a result of their solo lifestyles. We discuss two key themes that were identified, “solo-loneliness” and “meaningful futures,” in conjunction with the relevant literature and make suggestions for future research within gender and aging studies that could enhance more positive approaches to solo lifestyles.
AB - Greater longevity in the UK population has led to the increasing diversity of women experiencing aging in a multitude of ways. Internationally, gender inequalities in aging are still relatively invisible within both government policy and everyday life for particular groups of women. This article explores the concept of women growing older “solo”—by which we mean women who find themselves nonpartnered and aging without children as they move into later life. We report on the findings from a mixed-methods survey of 76 solo women in the UK aged 50 years and over, used to provide a broader overview of the issues and challenges they face as they move into later life. Qualitative data from the survey captured respondents’ perspectives about the links between their relationships status and well-being in later life and highlighted specific cumulative disadvantages emerging for some women as a result of their solo lifestyles. We discuss two key themes that were identified, “solo-loneliness” and “meaningful futures,” in conjunction with the relevant literature and make suggestions for future research within gender and aging studies that could enhance more positive approaches to solo lifestyles.
KW - aging
KW - loneliness
KW - older women
KW - singleness
KW - solo
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84981715585&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/08952841.2016.1187544
DO - 10.1080/08952841.2016.1187544
M3 - Article
C2 - 27716019
AN - SCOPUS:84981715585
SN - 0895-2841
VL - 29
SP - 321
EP - 333
JO - Journal of Women and Aging
JF - Journal of Women and Aging
IS - 4
ER -