What does this research mean for the field?

Differences in the prevailing patterns of fictionalized loneliness in later life among Russian and Croatian women's literature reflect distinct historical trajectories and legacies, demonstrating that such loneliness is deeply gendered. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine how literary works by Russian and Croatian women authors portray gendered experiences of loneliness in later life through the lens of Soviet and Yugoslav historical legacies.

September 10, 2026Journal of Gender StudiesOpen Access

Gendered experiences of loneliness in later life: comparing Soviet and Yugoslav legacies through literature

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Authors

DGDagmar Gramshammer-HohlUniversity of Graz

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Implication

Comparative literary analysis reveals distinct patterns of gendered later-life loneliness in Russian and Croatian fiction, highlighting how historical trajectories shape social isolation in ageing.

Key Points

To examine how literary works by Russian and Croatian women authors portray gendered experiences of loneliness in later life through the lens of Soviet and Yugoslav historical legacies.
Conducted a comparative close reading of selected literary texts written by Russian and Croatian female authors focusing on ageing and loneliness.
Analyzed character profiles, family structures, and thematic portrayals in relation to 20th-century historical events, including the Stalinist purges, World War II, and regional demographic shifts.
Soviet and contemporary Russian literature predominantly characterizes older women as solitary widows or childless individuals facing existential loneliness, directly mirroring massive male population losses from war and state violence.
Post-Yugoslav literature portrays late-life loneliness emerging within domestic co-residence, where older adults experience isolation despite living alongside spouses, children, or extended family members.

Cite This Study

Dagmar Gramshammer-Hohl (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa27bcf58559d80afc75387 https://doi.org/10.1080/09589236.2026.2711239

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Implication

Comparative literary analysis reveals distinct patterns of gendered later-life loneliness in Russian and Croatian fiction, highlighting how historical trajectories shape social isolation in ageing.