Isolation and seclusion of elderly widowers in Kashmir: examining their marginalized spaces within the family and society

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the seclusion and marginalization of elderly widowers in Kashmir, specifically focusing on the challenges they encounter post-spousal death. It argues that with the loss of a spouse, older widowers experience acute isolation and loneliness, significantly altering their health and well-being. The vulnerability and the subsequent marginalization experienced by the older widowers within the family and the broader society create a profound sense of isolation and helplessness. Such a dynamic pattern erodes their self-esteem and makes them age in isolation, significantly transforming their late life into a period marked by alienation, non-involvement, declining health and well-being and psychological distress. In addition, the study delves into the role of religious beliefs in overcoming stress and enhancing their well-being. This is a qualitative study based on 20 oral narratives with older widowers experiencing significant challenges post-spousal death. The findings of the study concluded that older widowers experience profound isolation and loneliness post-spousal death, significantly altering their health and well-being and transforming their late life into a period of acute vulnerability and reduced quality of life. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative research approach was used to gain an empathetic understanding of the challenges experienced by elderly widowers within the family post-spousal death. For the collection of data, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were planned with 20 elderly widowers in Kashmir, in the months of June and July 2023, each lasting approximately 40–45 minutes in a location convenient to the participants, typically within their own homes. The study used a convenience sampling technique to recruit 20 elderly widowers who have experienced substantial challenges within the family post-spousal death. Findings The experience of challenges faced by elderly widowers of Kashmir exhibits a concerning trend of their vulnerability and marginalization. As these individuals grapple with the loss of a spouse, they often face a multitude of challenges that undermine their social integration and deteriorate their well-being, steadily diminishing their overall quality of life. While it may seem that their problems are similar to other older individuals, the ground reality speaks a different language. Their problems are more intense and disturbing than older widows and other older adults. They are marked by a unique combination of intense emotional distress, disempowerment, marginalization and practical difficulties, substantially exacerbating their vulnerability and marginalization. Practical implications The study holds profound implications across multiple dimensions, offering valuable insights to community members and the state as a whole. The rich and detailed findings presented in this paper can help nurture an environment of cooperation and mutual understanding and can help highlight the urgent need for support system for the challenges experienced by elderly widowers in Kashmir. By developing empathetic understanding, the study can guide the development of community programs and policies that support social inclusion, support for mental health and other assistance, eventually enhancing their well-being and better quality of life for them. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is an original research paper.