Philippine E-Journals

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Experiences of Single Filipino Women

Rachel C. Reyes-laureano

Discipline: Psychology

 

Abstract:

Previous studies on singleness (especially female singleness) were often premised on the implicit assumption that it is a deficit identity or that there are some pathological reasons why some women become single for life. In recent years, more studies have examined the lived experience of singleness and the narratives of single women in order to gain an in depth understandingof lifelong singleness. This study followed the latter trend and used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to examine the lived experience of singleness of ten Filipino women. The women were interviewed three times and two types of data were gathered in order to understand their singleness in depth: life histories and phenomenology. First, their detailed life histories were elicited; second, they were asked to describe their lived experiences of being a single person; and third, they were asked to respond to a series of semi structured questions about singleness. Each case was analyzed in detail to identify emergent themes about singleness and superordinate themes were extracted across cases. The superordinate themes that emerged are singleness and psychological time, process of accepting lifelong singleness, the stigma of singleness, male versus female singleness: the importance of agency, ambivalence toward marriage, and singleness as an alternative life trajectory.