Citation

Siren A, Hakamies-Blomqvist L. Transp. Res. F Traffic Psychol. Behav. 2005; 8(3): 213-228.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Helsinki; Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.trf.2005.04.008

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The present study uses a qualitative approach to examine the personal meanings older women attach to cars and driving. The data consist of 10 narrative interviews with Swedish women aged 69–87, carried out in 2002. In the analysis, a social constructionist perspective was combined with a narrative approach focusing on how the women described the important actors and their respective positions during different periods of their driving histories. In addition, a life-course perspective and feminist theorizing on marginalization influenced the analysis. The aim of the study was to better understand the social reality surrounding older women’s driving and the mechanisms that marginalize women as road users throughout their life course. Two main themes emerged, reflecting the “sense and sensibility