| Summary: | 碩士 === 東吳大學 === 心理學系 === 107 === Abstract
Women these days have higher educational level with financial autonomy. There is a rising trend of professional midlife single women (hereinafter referred to as single women). However, as a woman, being single is inconsistent with the mainstream value of Confucian belief of family and mothers. Cultural expectations of traditional society as well as social prejudice and discrimination are challenges for midlife single women. We wondered whether this is the case for women who are at a point in their lives when meeting the married-with-family standard is becoming less probable. Interviews were conducted with 8 women (ages 45–56) who lived in Taipei or New Taipei City and identified as ‘‘never married,’’ ‘‘non-mother,” “professional competence and positions,’’ and ‘‘midlife.’’ Data were analyzed using discourse analysis. The results of this study have shown that the process of single identity and choice of these eight female participants can be categorized into three types: identity achievement, progressive identity achievement, and identity moratorium. Through this research we found that there are seven factors leading to these women actively or passively living single lifestyle: professional work ability with financial independence, negative parental relationship, experience of high self-growth and independent life style, the possession and construction of autonomous life, the enjoyment and habituation to single life style, the limitation of selecting partners under the influence of the social notion that males are superior to females, and the fear of traditional Chinese daughter-in-law role. The eight participants have no clear plans for retirement, but seven of them have common planned for public welfare or community service. The essential element of retirement preparation is in the here and now, taking good care of the self physically and mentally and living it out now. Eight participants chose to either live alone or live with a group of same-gender singles. The researchers also made recommendations for single women and social organizations from a clinical perspective.
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