Concept and Structure of Widowhood as a Social Phenomenon

Occupation: Head of the Department of Sociology of Social Work
Affiliation: Chernyshevsky Saratov National Research State University
Address: Russian Federation, Saratov

Ivetta D. Ivakhnova

Occupation: Postgraduate Student of the Sociological Faculty
Affiliation: Chernyshevsky Saratov National Research State University
Address: Russian Federation, Saratov

Journal name

Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya

Edition

Issue 10

Pages

94-105

Abstract

The article analyzes widowhood as a social phenomenon. The concept of widowhood is shown to be a differentiated and many-sided matter. The main semantic complexes of widowhood are treated as a family anomaly, as a ritual, as a formal sign marking sociocultural boundaries, and as a subjective phenomenon characterized by a certain modality. Sociocultural analysis of widowhood helps to present it not only as a static construct, but as a set of causally interrelated states. The paper explains socio-cultural conditionality of experience locus associated with widowhood. The structural framework of widowhood is identified as follows: the nature of marital relations, situation of loss, i.e. interruption of life projects, as well as formation of individual life strategies (restoration of contacts and semantic connections). Analysis of in-depth interviews with widowed people allowed to identify substantive difficulties, vulnerabilities in situations of spouse's loss: social resonance, complex system of contacts, danger of breaking the ability to rationally comprehend reality, and existential dimension of the situation. The results of the study showed that the choice of further life strategies is largely determined by the situational context and personal characteristics of the widowed person. The possible life positions are variable: simulating, sonoristic, regulating, position of 'absent presence', and realistic.

Keywords

widowhood, meanings of widowhood, structure of widowhood, marital relations, variability of life positions

Received

12.10.2021

Publication date

19.10.2021

Number of characters

37582

Cite

GOST	Elutina M., Ivakhnova I. Concept and Structure of Widowhood as a Social Phenomenon // Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya – 2021. – Issue 10 C. 94-105 [Electronic resource]. URL: http://ras.jes.su/socis/s013216250014471-1-1-en (circulation date: 27.04.2024). DOI: 10.31857/S013216250014471-1
MLA	Elutina, Marina E, Ivakhnova, Ivetta D "Concept and Structure of Widowhood as a Social Phenomenon." Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya 10 (2021):94-105. DOI: 10.31857/S013216250014471-1
APA	Elutina M., Ivakhnova I. (2021). Concept and Structure of Widowhood as a Social Phenomenon. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya (10), pp.94-105 DOI: 10.31857/S013216250014471-1

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