Going Solo: future research priorities based on the outcomes from an online survey Dr Trish Hafford-Letchfield, Reader in Social Work Nicky Lambert, Associate Professor Mental Health School of Health and Education

Who are SOLO women? Women over 55 years who are non-partnered and have never had children who are living in the UK WHY: Deconstruction of ageing experiences so as to understand how policy and practices aiming to support successful ageing might need to develop and respond. WHY: Deconstruction of ageing experiences so as to understand how policy and practices aiming to support successful ageing might need to develop and respond.

Researching Solo Women Significance of relationship status within policy and framing of the design and provision of quality care and support Capturing/describing contemporary forms of relationality, intimacy and personal life (Edwards et al, 2012; Hicks, 2011). Research with older women - main points of departure within ageing studies (Maynard et al, 2008) 1). Obligation not to minimize the real social and economic difficulties that a significant number of older women might face. 2). Explore the more positive aspects of later life and how these might be facilitated and supported. 1). Obligation not to minimize the real social and economic difficulties that a significant number of older women might face. 2). Explore the more positive aspects of later life and how these might be facilitated and supported.

Themes for research from the literature Less certain terminology and unpredictable life course 3 risks in changing demography: 1)Economic 2)Cultural 3)Personal wellbeing Limitations of methodological approaches What critiques are useful/ adapt or develop concepts, measures, theoretical frameworks and research designs to investigate? Balancing different concerns or multiple roles and comparing profiles ‘Discretionary’ or inessential ways they spend their time, idea that these experiences may contribute more to their wellbeing as they are more positive experiences. Overall invisibility in research ‘Normalisation’ - searching for and describing patterns – could be around expectations, experiences, reflecting on needs. Subject positions, ideological dilemmas, metaphors. Engler et al (2011) (McNair, 2008)

Sexuality/Sexual identity and Intimacy Economic & material well-being Demography and ageing Health & Social Care SOLO WOMEN: Some themes from the Literature

Demographic observations Emerging demographic, sizeable segment of the workforce, new global demographic tied to widespread diffusion of individualism, women's economic empowerment Aging workforce, delayed and less linear and less standardized life transitions Less stable intimate relationships (Bauman, 2003) Emerging demographic, sizeable segment of the workforce, new global demographic tied to widespread diffusion of individualism, women's economic empowerment Aging workforce, delayed and less linear and less standardized life transitions Less stable intimate relationships (Bauman, 2003)

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS - Isolating this population within the Household Panel data. Many of the factors that women in national surveys are defined by include marriage and children not relevant to the experience of these women. Online SURVEY using purposive sampling to identify and capture some of the key characteristics of solo women and to consult them on the key research questions that should be pursued further. The final stage of the scoping study will involve face to face individual INTERVIEWS gathering qualitative data on the issues and experiences of those solo women completing the survey and through outreach work into more hard to reach groups where solo women are not easily identified. Our study of SOLO women? Statistical Analysis Survey Social Media Qualitative Interviews

Definition of ‘Singles’ – Living alone in the household. Adults interviewed every 12/12 either face-to-face or over the phone using Computer Assisted Interviewing (CAI). Wave 1 – 3 Nov 2009 – Nov 2012 Household Panel Data Survey

Online survey n=113 April-Aug 2014 Outreach to community organisations using hardcopy – ongoing n=12 23 Questions – mixture of data (demography, rating, qualitative) 29 women have volunteered for follow up interviews by phone or face-to-face Online survey n=113 April-Aug 2014 Outreach to community organisations using hardcopy – ongoing n=12 23 Questions – mixture of data (demography, rating, qualitative) 29 women have volunteered for follow up interviews by phone or face-to-face Going Solo Survey

What would be the questions for exploring the learning needs and experiences of solo women?

Any Questions?

References Bauman, Z. (2003) Liquid love. Cambridge, Malden, Polity Press Darab, S., Hartman, Y., (2013) Understanding Single Older women’s Invisibility in Housing Issues in Australia. Housing, Theory and Society. 30 (4), pp Edwards, R., Ribbens McCarthy, J., and Gillies, V. (2012) ‘The politicis of concepts; family and its (putative) replacements’ British Journal of Sociology, vol 63, no 4, pp Hicks, S. (2011) Lesbian, Gay and Queer Parenting: Families, Intimacies, Genealogies. Basingstoke; Palgrave Macmillan. Hicks, S. (2014) ‘Deconstructing the family’ in Rethinking anti- discriminatory and anti-oppressive theories for social work practice. C.Cocker and T.Hafford-Letchfield (eds). Basingstoke, Palgrave.McNair, S. (2008) Inquiry into the future for lifelong learning - Demography and Lifelong Learning IFLL Thematic Paper 1. Leicester, NIACE. Bauman, Z. (2003) Liquid love. Cambridge, Malden, Polity Press Darab, S., Hartman, Y., (2013) Understanding Single Older women’s Invisibility in Housing Issues in Australia. Housing, Theory and Society. 30 (4), pp Edwards, R., Ribbens McCarthy, J., and Gillies, V. (2012) ‘The politicis of concepts; family and its (putative) replacements’ British Journal of Sociology, vol 63, no 4, pp Hicks, S. (2011) Lesbian, Gay and Queer Parenting: Families, Intimacies, Genealogies. Basingstoke; Palgrave Macmillan. Hicks, S. (2014) ‘Deconstructing the family’ in Rethinking anti- discriminatory and anti-oppressive theories for social work practice. C.Cocker and T.Hafford-Letchfield (eds). Basingstoke, Palgrave.McNair, S. (2008) Inquiry into the future for lifelong learning - Demography and Lifelong Learning IFLL Thematic Paper 1. Leicester, NIACE.