Abstract
Time and temporality are under-researched areas in the sociology of intimate lives. This study therefore explores the aspect of time in long-distance relationships. On the basis of 19 in-depth interviews with individuals from Latvia with long-distance relationship experience, the study aims to examine how long-distance partners attribute meaning to and deal with the time they spend together and the time they spend apart. The theoretical point of departure is the notion of temporality as developed by Mead, which is combined with Flaherty’s concept of “time work,” referring to the actor’s attempts to manipulate her temporal experiences. This study suggests that time work differs among what is here conceptualized as different time-place zones, i.e. states of time and place where, in the dimension of place, the partners are either co-present or apart. Eight time-work strategies are identified in relation to these different time-place zones. It is concluded that time work enables long-distance partners to manage their relationship and to be in control of their subjective experiences of time in the relationship.
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Notes
Different terms are used to describe relationships in which partners do not share a household, for example, dual-residence relationship, multi-household relationship, commuter relationship, living-apart-together relationship, distant relationship, and long-distance relationship. Not all of these terms are interchangeable, but many overlap. This has to be taken into account when interpreting the findings.
The analysis of the interview data did not result in examples of time work that would be directed towards the previous past-apart. However, the previous past-apart has an influence on subsequent future plans. In line with previous research (Levin and Trost 1999), individuals who had previously a negative experience with cohabiting with another partner tend not to plan for a subsequent future-together with their current long-distance partner.
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Acknowledgments
The author gratefully acknowledges support from The Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies who financed the author’s doctoral studies and the Helge Ax:son Johnsons Foundation. Furthermore, the author would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their thoughtful suggestions that helped improve the article.
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Jurkane-Hobein, I. When Less is More: On Time Work in Long-Distance Relationships. Qual Sociol 38, 185–203 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11133-015-9304-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11133-015-9304-5