Gendered Conditioning of Exclusion from Social Relations

PETROVÁ KAFKOVÁ, Marcela. Gendered Conditioning of Exclusion from Social Relations. In Aging & Social Change: Twelfth Interdisciplinary Conference September 22 - 23, 2022 Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland. 2022.

Basic information

• Original name: Gendered Conditioning of Exclusion from Social Relations
• Name (in English): Gendered Conditioning of Exclusion from Social Relations
• Authors: PETROVÁ KAFKOVÁ, Marcela.
• Edition: Aging & Social Change: Twelfth Interdisciplinary Conference September 22 - 23, 2022 Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland, 2022.

Other information

• Original language: Czech
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 50401 Sociology
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Keywords in English: excluusion from social relations; gender; older adults; partnership;loneliness

Abstract

Social networks are essentially conditioned by gender. On the one hand, women are perceived to have wider social networks, but on the other hand, they are at significant risk of loneliness in old age. The idea of loneliness appeared incompatible with “traditional” masculinity; the typical picture of loneliness in old age evokes the idea of a widow. We will explore the subjective dimensions of loneliness in relation to social exclusion, having in mind their non-linear and complex relationship in daily life. Embedded in the constructionist grounded theory approach, we analyse data from 29 qualitative interviews with older adults living in the Czech Republic, focusing on loneliness as a highly contextualised issue. We closely explore the relationship between biographical events, the intensity of social relations in later life within and beyond the nuclear family and the subjective feelings of loneliness and solitude. We argue that various dimensions of loneliness must be taken into account as people deal with its impacts both on a situational (feeling of loneliness of one person vary in different spatial, temporal and social contexts) as well as a long-term basis (when loneliness is linked, e.g. to social marginalisation), seeking for positive, supportive aspects of solitude as well as for negative experiences of loneliness. Gender differences in the sources and feelings of loneliness are thoroughly examined. However, our data show that partner and parenting life trajectories, or lack thereof, are more important than gender.

Abstract (in English)

Social networks are essentially conditioned by gender. On the one hand, women are perceived to have wider social networks, but on the other hand, they are at significant risk of loneliness in old age. The idea of loneliness appeared incompatible with “traditional” masculinity; the typical picture of loneliness in old age evokes the idea of a widow. We will explore the subjective dimensions of loneliness in relation to social exclusion, having in mind their non-linear and complex relationship in daily life. Embedded in the constructionist grounded theory approach, we analyse data from 29 qualitative interviews with older adults living in the Czech Republic, focusing on loneliness as a highly contextualised issue. We closely explore the relationship between biographical events, the intensity of social relations in later life within and beyond the nuclear family and the subjective feelings of loneliness and solitude. We argue that various dimensions of loneliness must be taken into account as people deal with its impacts both on a situational (feeling of loneliness of one person vary in different spatial, temporal and social contexts) as well as a long-term basis (when loneliness is linked, e.g. to social marginalisation), seeking for positive, supportive aspects of solitude as well as for negative experiences of loneliness. Gender differences in the sources and feelings of loneliness are thoroughly examined. However, our data show that partner and parenting life trajectories, or lack thereof, are more important than gender.

Links

• TJ03000002, research and development project: Name: Genderové cesty exkluze v sociálních vztazích ve stáří pohledem životní dráhy a jejich dopad na zdraví a pohodu. (Acronym: GENPATH)

Investor: Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, GENDER-NET Plus