| This qualitative exploratory study considered a sample of older single women living in Nova Scotia in relation to their leisure experiences across the lifespan, while considering the influence of society and gender expectations. The existing literature concerning the leisure experiences of single women was limited at the time of the study and fails to provide adequate context for single women's leisure as it has existed in a North American society. The purpose of the study was to gain an understanding of the leisure experiences of older single women across the life course in terms of opportunities, gender roles, cultural expectations, or possible constraints as a means of understanding the impact or meanings of their leisure involvements throughout their life. A qualitative design using, oral histories, was used to explore the leisure experiences of older single women. Participants were recruited from local senior centres. Four women were included in the study - ranging in age from 60-75 years of age. Three were never married one had been married for a brief period, but had not been married for the last twenty years. The individuals were born between 1930 and 1945 to place them in the context of their cohort's experience. The data was collected through face-to face, open ended, semi-structured oral history interviews, which took place over four meetings. Interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim. Field notes also aided in capturing impressions and emotions during the interviews. Narrative analysis was used to analyze the data (Polkinghorne, 1995). After each personal account was collected and transcribed, narrative analysis began by locating the stories that encompassed each woman's story in a way that accurately captured and represented her life. The findings of this study suggested that the influence of family, work and cultural expectations create both constraints and enablers to the single women in regards to their leisure. Each of the four women was found to have experienced similar leisure experiences across the lifespan, including music, reading, casual sport or game activities. Their affiliations were mainly with siblings, school mates or through church based activities. The findings were supportive of the Continuity Theory of aging, both in regard to their work and leisure pursuits. In fact their work was very influential in their choices of social contacts and time for leisure in later life. In terms of lifestyle and life cycle indicators, age, education, social networks, gender expectations, (i.e. care giving and limited career opportunities) were all consistent of leisure behaviour of the four study participants. The Selection, Optimization, and Compensation (SOC) Model of Aging was supported in that some of the women levels of participation declined due to health issues, therefore resulting in decreased functional ability, causing women to makes choices in their leisure participation based on their functional abilities. The study further demonstrated that older single women can master the complex challenges of aging, the everyday demands and functional decline by applying the three strategies of adaptation through selection, optimization and compensation in terms of their leisure choices. |
