On the other side of couplehood

Single women in Sweden exploring life without a partner

Bibliographic Data

ID13009354
AuthorsLars Evertsson (0000-0002-7554-530X, Umeå University, corresponding author), Charlott Nyman (Umeå University)
Year2013
Volume2
Issue1
Pages61-78
Publication date2013-03-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueFamilies Relationships and Societies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2046-7435 • E-ISSN: 2046-7443
PublisherPolicy Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1332/204674313x664707
OpenAlexW2051866903
LanguageEN
Citations received9

This article describes Swedish women’s experiences of life as single. Data showed that singlehood was not actively chosen but rather a situation that participants ended up in due to separation from a partner. However, once single, participants chose to remain single. The lack of gender equality in traditional cohabiting couplehood made participants wary about entering a new cohabiting couple relationship. Living apart together (LAT) relationships were identified as a possible way to combine gender-equal intimacy with personal freedom and independence. Data suggested that the increased number of single women may not necessarily point to an increased desirability of singleness per se, nor to a rejection of coupled intimacy. Singlehood was rather a rejection of the limitations associated with cohabiting couplehood. The article highlights the importance of the Swedish welfare state for making it possible for women to remain single, even those with dependent children

Cohabitation · Developmental psychology · Independence (probability theory · Political science · Single mothers · Sociology · Welfare · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Gender Studies · Medicine · Psychology · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Social Psychology · Work-Family Balance Challenges · Gerontology

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