Weiterleben, weitergehen,weiterlieben

Women live an average of five years longer than men. They often prefer older partners, which increases the risk of becoming widows after years of companionship. Eighty percent of all widowed individuals are female. This is worth discussing. Given the number of widows in our society, it is surprisingly quiet around these single women. They live in social shadows. The stereotype of the sexually liberated, fun-loving widow is as unrealistic as the image of the gray woman, who manages her remaining life in solitude and detachment from the world. How has this marital status changed over the past hundred years? What does research say about helpful coping patterns after a significant loss? What needs to be considered to prevent widowhood from becoming a trap of poverty? What is meant by an ambiguous loss? And why does this biographical break often lead to individuality and unexpected autonomy? Six interviews with distinguished experts shed light on this shadowy topic. Seven very different love and mourning stories provide insight into the life force of women who have mastered the journey from survival back to life, to thriving and living on.