“I won’t see him anymore? How long will it last? Well, forever”: the construction of loneliness and early widowhood today

This research paper discusses the loneliness experienced by young widows and widowers, whether or not they were married at the time of their partner’s death. It presents the results of an interview-based study, covering topics such as funerals, romantic and friendship bonds, single parenthood, the unique situation of young childless widows, social intolerance toward contemporary widowhood, and the social pressure to “move on.” Exploring the boundaries between individual situations and the way institutions shape social status, this study reveals how different forms of loneliness are socially constructed and expressed differently according to gender.