ROLE CHANGES ASSOCIATED WITH WIDOWHOOD AMONG MIDDLE AND UPPER-CLASS WOMEN

Abstract

This research explores the role changes for a segment of widows that may be associated with their perceptions of widowhood. Face-to-face, in-depth, standardized interviews were administered during 1973 and early 1974 to a selected sample of30 middle and upper-class widows living in the Kansas City Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area. Interviews focused on five traditional women's roles, as perceived before and after widowhood, and on the changes which occurred in these roles as attributed to widowhood. The data indicate that role-jilling and compensating behavior include assumption of former husband's responsibilities (financial management, home maintenance, etc.), renewal or acceleration of work careers, renewal or acceleration of organizational activity, travel and other relatively individualized activities, and adjustment of role relationships with relatives and others. The women interviewed were educated, had no major health constraints and, for the most part, had no financial constraints; therefore, they have the resources and abilities to re-create their life situations after widowhood, once the initial period of grief is over. The general impression from the sample is that these women have or will turn to roles which essentially contain "secondary" type relations when they perceive that there are no roles containing "primary" relations in which they can function.