Tales of love and death: The lives of Portuguese widows.
Item
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Title
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Tales of love and death: The lives of Portuguese widows.
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Identifier
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AAI9605671
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identifier
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9605671
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Creator
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Tovar, Patricia.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Leith Mullings
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Date
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1995
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Anthropology, Cultural | Sociology, Individual and Family Studies | Women's Studies
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Abstract
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This ethnographic study documents the ways in which recent socioeconomic, legislative, and demographic transformations in Portugal have affected widows' roles and their position in the family and society since the establishment of democracy in 1974. An examination of the shifts in family structure and household strategies of urban widows in Lisbon allows us to determine the extent to which changes have affected their lives.;The methodological approach includes a combination of participant-observation and structured interviews of fifty-eight widows. A detailed description of their experiences and struggles is presented, giving special attention to their survival strategies, use of resources, and extent of support from kinship and friendship networks. Particular consideration is given to the manner in which they cope with grief and bereavement. The study examines issues of adaptation and identity; many of the widows studied here seek support through a unique Catholic organization called the Hope and Life Movement (Movimento Esperanca e Vida, MEV). By comparing widows who do and do not participate in this movement, aspects of gender and kinship theory are evaluated in terms of the extent of female autonomy and empowerment. The study of the changing roles of widows and their organization also permits analysis of the policy and legislative implications of this movement.;Gender and kinship theory, as well as literature concerning grief, bereavement, death and dying form the theoretical backdrop of this study. This allows us to overcome the limitations of previous theoretical models and to understand the role of individuals in effecting change. At the same time, complex aspects of women's place in society will be illuminated by an analysis of the impact of institutions such as the family, law and the church. Concern with institutional change and with women as actors allows comparison with the situation of widowed persons in other parts of the world.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
