A qualitative study of lived experiences of solo-living women in post-divorce life

Authors

1 Associate professor of sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

2 M.A. in Sociology, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

3 PhD in sociology, Department of Sociology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

Objectives: During recent decades, the number of solo-living divorced women in Sanandaj has been growing. It is very important to describe women's experiences, interpretation, and understanding of loneliness and the phenomenal world, and to answer how the "world of loneliness" is present in the lived experience of a lonely divorced woman. Methods: The methodology of the current research is qualitative and for this purpose, 23 divorced solo-living women in Sanandaj city were interviewed with the interpretive phenomenological approach. Van Manen's six-step method was used to analyze the data. Results: The findings obtained from the lived experience of solo-living women show the understanding of living alone as an extension of the scope of more options and freedoms, the absence of a double burden on the shoulders of parents, and the protection of children. For this reason, a different feeling towards living alone after divorce has been formed among participating women. For some women, the feeling of living alone is considered as an unpleasant experience, and for another group, as a liberating metaphor. Conclusion: The understanding and interpretation of solitary women from the phenomenal world implies self-support and developing resilience against problems, transformation in female behaviors and self-image, reinterpretation of life in the world and self-control, and restraint of sexual need. Living alone has left different effects and consequences on women's lives, which are categorized under four general themes: "individual growth", "personal independence", "social rejection" and "vacuum of support of children". Based on the semantic constructions of the present study, it shows that women living alone are experiencing a difficult life in the world with their own problems, which requires the support of society in an all-round way

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

زائرزاده، اله و پیرخائفی، علیرضا (۱۳۹۳). بررسی رابطه سطوح خود متمایزیافتگی و سبک­های مقابله با فشار روانی در زنان مطلقه. زنان و خانواده، ۸ (۲۶)، ۱۳۱- ۱۵۵.
ساروخانی، باقر (۱۳۸۸). مقدمه­ای بر جامعه­شناسی خانواده، تهران: انتشارات سروش.
صادقی فسایی، سهیلا و ایثاری، مریم (۱۳۹۱). تحلیل جنسیتی زندگی پس از طلاق: مطالعه کیفی، زن در توسعه و سیاست، ۳، ۵-۳۰.
عنایت زاده، لیلا و قاضی طباطبایی، محمود (1392). تجربه زیسته زنان مطلقه کُرد، فرایندها و چالش‌های آنان یک بررسی پدیدارشناختی (مطالعه موردی شهرستان سقز)، نشریه زن در فرهنگ و هنر، 5 (3)، 373-396.
فلاح امین، فاطمه؛ کاظمی، عباس و ترکمان، فرح (1400). از تنها-زیستی تا تنها ماندن: مقایسه دو گروه از زنان مجرد تنها در تهران، مطالعات فرهنگی و ارتباطات، 64، 1-24.
ملتفت، حسین و حبیب احمدی (۱۳۸۸). بررسی عوامل مؤثر بر گرایش زوجین به طلاق (مطالعه موردی شهرستان داراب)، فصل‌نامه نامه انجمن جمعیت‌شناسی ایران، (۵)، ۱۰۲-۱۱۸.
منادی، مرتضی (۱۳۸۶). جامعه­شناسی خانواده (تحلیل روزمرگی و فضای درون خانواده)، تهران: نشر دانژه.
نیکبخت نصرآبادی، علیرضا؛ پاشایی ثابت، فاطمه و بستامی، علیرضا (1395). تجربه زندگی زنان پس از طلاق: مطالعه کیفی، نشریه روان پرستاری، 4 (3)، 1-11.
 
 
 
Bauman, Z. (2013). Liquid love: On the frailty of human bonds. John Wiley & Sons.
Becker, B. & Charles, N. (2006). Layered meanings: The construction of the family in the interview, Community, Work and Family, 9 (2), 101-122.
Bellah, R. N., Madsen, R., Sullivan, W. M., Swidler, A., & Tipton, S. M. (1985). Habits of the Heart. Berkeley. Cal., University of California Press.
Bhattacharyya, S. (2012). Indian immigrant women's post-divorce experience, Doctoral dissertation, University of British Columbia.
Bisagni, G. M., & Eckenrode, J. (1995). The role of work identity in women's adjustment to divorce. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 65(4), 574-583.
Giddens, A. (1992). Sexuality, love and eroticism in modern societies. Polity Press.
Gregson, J., & Ceynar, M. L. (2009). Finding “me” again: Women's postdivorce identity shifts. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 50(8), 564-582.
Guttmann, J. (1993). Divorce in psychosocial perspective: Theory and research. Psychology Press.
McDaniel, A. K., & Coleman, M. (2003). Women's experiences of midlife divorce following long-term marriage. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 38(3-4), 103-128.
Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon and schuster.
Thomas, C., & Ryan, M. (2008). Women's perception of the divorce experience: A qualitative study. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 49(3-4), 210-224.
Whiteside, M. F., & Becker, B. J. (2000). Parental factors and the young child's postdivorce adjustment: a meta-analysis with implications for parenting arrangements. Journal of Family Psychology, 14(1), 5-18.
Schalkwyk, G. (2005). Explorations of post‐divorce experiences: women's reconstructions of self 1. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 26(2), 90-97.
 
 
 
Sociology of Social Institutions
Volume 10, Issue 21
September 2023
Pages 159-178

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics