Abstract

Due to the continuous belief in the centrality of marriage and family value in Arab countries, the noticeable increase in the average age of females' marriages in Jordan for the last years is starting to ring alarming bells. This is associated with the increasing numbers of the NMW and delayed marriages (in 2007 more than 100000 women over the age of 30 years were reported by Aljazeera as still not married, Aljazeera News 26 Dec, 2008). This is compounded by a delay in the average age of marriage for females, which rose from 21 years in 1979 to 27 years in 2002 (Department of Statistics-Jordan 2003). Using the lens of social exclusion, my paper investigates the lives of NMW whose ages ranged between 30- 49; I ask how do never married women navigate social spaces, how do they define and claim rights in their daily interactions, and what challenges and opportunities do they face? Particularly, I explore whether NMW are included or excluded from the different social settings in West Amman, and examine the meanings, forms and tactics they deploy in dealing with their inclusion/exclusion. In my research I focus on middle to upper middle class women, who are characterized by a mix of conservatism and liberalism. I conducted in-depth interviews with eleven NMW and a couple of NMM to unpack possible gender differences. My paper relays aspects of women's lived reality and describes the freedoms and restrictions experienced by single women living in urban spaces as factors shaping their wellbeing. I argue that changes in marriage and nuclear family constitute a vital part of gendered relations and wellbeing.

Department

Cynthia Nelson Institute for Gender and Women's Studies

Degree Name

MA in Gender & Women's Studies

Graduation Date

2-1-2010

Submission Date

September 2010

First Advisor

Sholkamy, Hania

Second Advisor

Sabea, Han

Extent

NA

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Single women -- Jordan -- Social conditions.

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Women -- Family relationships -- Jordan.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

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