Aging & Social Change: Twelfth Interdisciplinary Conference

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.