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Single People's Geographies of Home: Intimacy and Friendship beyond ‘the Family’

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  • Eleanor Wilkinson

    (Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, England)

Abstract

What might it mean to think of ‘the single’ as a potentially queer subject and in what ways does singleness pose a challenge to heteronormative conceptualizations of the lifecourse and household formation? In this paper I explore some of the contested meanings of ‘home’ for those who are single; and examine how single people have created new forms of home and new spaces of at-homeness with those with whom they are not biologically (or romantically) related. I conclude by asking how we might help foster, build, and create new forms of dwelling that might better match single people's imaginings and desires for a home outside of heteronormative coupledom. Ultimately the paper argues that the exclusion of the figure of the single is one of the key omissions in the work of those interested in challenging the geographies of exclusion and inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Eleanor Wilkinson, 2014. "Single People's Geographies of Home: Intimacy and Friendship beyond ‘the Family’," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 46(10), pages 2452-2468, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:46:y:2014:i:10:p:2452-2468
    DOI: 10.1068/a130069p
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Natascha Klocker & Chris Gibson & Erin Borger, 2012. "Living Together but Apart: Material Geographies of Everyday Sustainability in Extended Family Households," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(9), pages 2240-2259, September.
    2. Moss, Pamela, 1997. "Negotiating spaces in home environments: Older women living with arthritis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 23-33, July.
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    Keywords

    queer; single; home; coupledom; lifecourse;
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