A Path Not Taken: A Cultural Analysis of Regrets and Childlessness in the Lives of Older Women

This paper explores regrets about childlessness in 90 older women interviewed using qualitative methods. Regrets were discussed in the context of the changing meaning of childlessness over the life course. We found that issues of regret are situated in a cultural system that renders childless women...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Gerontologist 1992-10, Vol.32 (5), p.618-626
Main Authors: Alexander, Baine B., Rubinstein, Robert L., Goodman, Marcene, Luborsky, Mark
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Anthropology, Cultural
Biological and medical sciences
Childlessness
Children & youth
Cultural anthropology
Cultural Influences
Culture
Emotions
Family Characteristics
Female
Females
Gender Identity
Gender issues
Humans
Life course
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Miscellaneous
Older Adults
Older people
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Regrets
Social research
Women
Women - psychology
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Description
Summary:This paper explores regrets about childlessness in 90 older women interviewed using qualitative methods. Regrets were discussed in the context of the changing meaning of childlessness over the life course. We found that issues of regret are situated in a cultural system that renders childless women marginal. We argue that regrets should be understood in a wider cultural context that incorporates the cultural construction of the self over time.
ISSN:0016-9013
1758-5341
DOI:10.1093/geront/32.5.618