Negotiating a “Questionable” Identity: Commuter Wives and Social Networks

Abstract

This study investigated interactions between commuter wives and their social networks. Five focus groups involving 25 women provided insight into interactions of women in commuter marriages with members of their social networks. The focus-group findings provided the basis for individually interviewing 50 women in commuter marriages. Using interpretive thematic analysis, results revealed that questions were the most common type of message commuter wives reported receiving from others. Question content involved (a) requests for general and logistical information, (b) determination of the reasons for the commuting arrangement, and (c) negative evaluations of commuter marriages. These findings support the interpretation that the term “commuter wife” represents a socially unintelligible identity to many social network members; for women, being a commuting professional and being a wife are incongruent. This study advances our understanding of how individuals in this context negotiate an unconventional identity in social interaction.

Notes

Participant compensation was made possible by an American Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship awarded to the author by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation. The author extends her profound gratitude to the AAUW for this funding.

All participants quoted are referenced by interview number and line number. Thus “27: 283–286” refers to interview number 27, lines numbers 283 through 286. Participant names and other potentially identifying information have been changed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Karla Mason Bergen

Karla Mason Bergen, Department of Communication, College of Saint Mary.