The abject single: exploring the gendered experience of singleness in Britain

Lai, A.-L., Lim, M. and Higgings, M. (2015) The abject single: exploring the gendered experience of singleness in Britain. Journal of Marketing Management, 31(15-16), pp. 1559-1582. (doi: 10.1080/0267257X.2015.1073170)

Abstract

This paper explores the gendered experience of singleness in Britain through a theoretical and empirical understanding of the abject. Drawing on the writings of Judith Butler, we argue that singleness is culturally pathologised as an abject ‘other’, a liminal state which renders the legitimation of the single subject unintelligible. Through 14 active interviews with British singles, we demonstrate how our participants negotiate their marginal status vis-à-vis the marketplace and the broader society that continue to uphold heterosexual partnership as a normative form of intimacy. Our data uncovers persistent and powerful gender stereotypes of how singles ought to organise their lives and conform both to social, as well as market-driven pressures. We therefore highlight research gaps in the experience of singleness and critique the heteronormative framework that remains dominant, yet concealed, in gender research.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Lim, Professor Ming
• Authors: Lai, A.-L., Lim, M., and Higgings, M.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
• Journal Name: Journal of Marketing Management
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• ISSN: 0267-257X
• ISSN (Online): 1472-1376
• Published Online: 07 August 2015