ANDRADE,
Darlane Silva Vieira. The
“singleness” in Salvador: unveiling practices and meanings among middle-class adults.
Thesis (Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies about Women, Gender and Feminism).
Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador,
2012
ABSTRACT
This thesis sought to
understand the contemporary phenomenon of “singleness”, specifically in the
capital of Bahia, through experiences and the definition of the condition of
being single middle class men and women who live by themselves in Salvador. The
study was based on interdisciplinary discussions about the changes in personal
life, gender relations, relationships, and lifestyles in urban contexts that
have contributed to the rethinking of the definition and practices of “singleness”.
The research was based on feminist epistemologies, taking gender as the main
category chosen to analyze the data. It adopted mixed methods with both
qualitative and quantitative techniques: focus groups in which four women and
three men participated; structured questionnaires to which 76 people responded;
field observations carried out in leisure spaces around the city; and a
subsample of six participants given biographical interviews guided by their
“life grids” and diaries. Participants
range from 30 to 60 years old, have a university level degree, live in middle
to high class neighborhoods in Salvador, and are classified as belonging to A/B
social class according to Brazilian Criteria of Economic Classification. The
compilation of data and the analysis of the literature about the theme at hand
allowed, firstly, for the reconstruction of the concept of “singleness”
according to its dimensions of civil status, lifestyle, and loneliness, using
freedom as the focal point, as well as the element that connects all the
dimensions and the most important meaning of “singleness”. Secondly, this study
allowed for the construction of a profile of a specific group of singles living
alone, based on their socioeconomic characteristics and experiences of “singleness”
in the field of relationships and sexuality, on their leisure and work
routines, and on their expectations for the future. In addition, the study
mapped the areas around the city occupied by singles, especially for leisure
activities, showing that the singleness condition is experienced inside and
outside the home, freedom being the main focus. Finally, this study revealed
some gender differences in the way that singleness is experienced, given that
freedom, as the major characteristic of single life, has different connotations
for men and women, especially in regards to sexuality: it is more socially
acceptable for men to have sex outside marriage than for women. Although many
single women have an active sex life, others remain celibate until they enter into
a stable relationship, which suggests that singleness represents both changes
and permanencies in personal life.
Keywords: Singleness. Living alone.
Gender relations. Middle class. Urban lifestyle.
