Women's experience of being single

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Women‟s experience of being single has generally been neglected by psychological research and literature. However, the study of singlehood could provide valuable information about interpersonal relationships and the personal realm. Forming a romantic relationship is deemed an important developmental and social task within Western society which holds that all human beings have an inherent need for intimacy and belonging. The lack of such a relationship often leads to social stigmatization and marginalization. Whilst various studies of romantic relationships have been conducted, very few studies have focussed on singlehood. The few studies on singlehood often pose methodological problems. Situated in a feminist informed phenomenological framework; this study investigated women‟s experience of being single. Seven tertiary-educated, single women between the ages of 30 and 40 years were interviewed individually regarding their experience of being single. The interviews were then analysed by means of Giorgi‟s descriptive pre-transcendental phenomenological method. The participants‟ rich and nuanced descriptions of how they experienced being single were grouped into eight units of significance: being single means not being in a relationship; holding on to the 'you can freedom; a partner implies obliged companionship and support; (un)wanted attention from the right man; we are educated and independent women!; (not) wanting children, either way, time‟s running out; missing out on sex; and reasons for being single. The results highlighted the hegemony of romantic relationships, the prevalence of a dominant gender discourse, and also the tension between freedom and connectedness which women often experience. Lastly, the limitations and future recommendations of the study are presented.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University