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Life after 65: story of single, Chinese women in Singapore
Author
Leong, Cecilia Lye Lin
Supervisor
D'Rozario, Vilma
Abstract
In the age group of 65 years and above, 4.4 percent of the resident population of Singapore are single females. In a modern and yet, patriarchal society, where marriage and motherhood are deemed as norms, single women are seen as different. It is in the interest of this study to understand what it means to be an elderly single woman and how elderly single women manage their lives.
This research is a qualitative study which employs a thematic analysis approach to explore the lives of 5 elderly single Chinese women in Singapore. Face-to-face individual interviews were conducted and transcribed. The analysis revealed four broad themes: family circumstances, being single, living life and managing life. These themes suggest that the women remained single due to conditions in the family when they were younger and that they have accepted their fate of being unmarried. Interestingly, these women are satisfied with their lives and are presently coping to lead the rest of the journey, in view of age and limited resources. Balte’s theory of Selection, Optimization and Compensation provides the theoretical framework for this study.
This research is a qualitative study which employs a thematic analysis approach to explore the lives of 5 elderly single Chinese women in Singapore. Face-to-face individual interviews were conducted and transcribed. The analysis revealed four broad themes: family circumstances, being single, living life and managing life. These themes suggest that the women remained single due to conditions in the family when they were younger and that they have accepted their fate of being unmarried. Interestingly, these women are satisfied with their lives and are presently coping to lead the rest of the journey, in view of age and limited resources. Balte’s theory of Selection, Optimization and Compensation provides the theoretical framework for this study.
Date Issued
2013
Call Number
HQ1064.S55 Leo
Date Submitted
2013