Commuter Wives: Accounting for an Unconventional Marital Identity

• In Event: Top Four Papers in Family Communication

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to examine the process of identity negotiation for commuter wives with their social network members. The author conducted an interpretive study interviewing 25 women in focus groups and 50 women in individual, in-depth interviews which were transcribed and submitted to a thematic analysis.Analysis suggested that providing accounts in response to questions and comments is a primary way commuter wives communicatively negotiated their identities with social networks members.

Author

• Karla Bergen, College of Saint Mary