Planning for the future in the shadow of the polycrisis: Young women's uncertain transitions to adulthood

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-07-25T03:15:59Z
dc.abstract.enThis paper explores the complexities of young women's gendered orientations to the future, contextualised within the realities of a 'polycrisis' era of compounded global uncertainties that constitute a formative generational experience. Through an examination of 31 qualitative interviews with young women living in Poland (aged 18-35), analytically represented by four biographical cases, we explore individual experiences and biographical futures within broader social and structural tensions surrounding transitions to adulthood in education, employment, housing and family. Applying Brannen and Nilsen's (2002) typology of temporal orientations and recalibrating it to the post-pandemic context, this study reveals that - in response to pervasive uncertainty - adaptability has become a leading strategy for navigating life in the face of multiple crises. Adaptability, which can be experienced in different ways (as an enjoyable orientation, an accepted rational strategy, or a forced and unwanted burden), can emerge as a sole orientation or overlap with other types. Moreover, the selected cases illustrate how ideas about the future are shaped by age, social class and family situation.
dc.affiliationInstytut Nauk Społecznych
dc.affiliationWydział Nauk Społecznych w Warszawie
dc.contributor.authorKajta, Justyna
dc.contributor.authorSarnowska-Wilczyńska, Justyna
dc.contributor.authorPustułka, Paulina
dc.contributor.authorKwiatkowska, Agnieszka
dc.date.access2025-05-07
dc.date.accessioned2025-05-07T09:58:40Z
dc.date.available2025-05-07T09:58:40Z
dc.date.created2025
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstract<jats:p>This paper explores the complexities of young women's gendered orientations to the future, contextualised within the realities of a ‘polycrisis’ era of compounded global uncertainties, constituting a formative generational experience. Through an investigation of 31 qualitative interviews with young women living in Poland (ages 18–35), analytically represented by four biographical cases, we explore individual experiences and biographical futures within broader social and structural tensions surrounding transitions to adulthood in education, employment, housing, and family. By applying Brannen and Nilsen's typology of temporal orientations and recalibrating it to the post-pandemic context, this study reveals that – in response to the all-embracing uncertainty – adaptability has become a leading strategy for navigating life in the face of multiple crises. Adaptability, which can be experienced in different ways (as an enjoyable orientation, an accepted rational strategy, or a forced and unwanted burden), can emerge as a sole orientation or overlap with other types. Moreover, the selected cases illustrate how ideas about the future are shaped by age, social class and family situation.</jats:p>
dc.description.accesstimebefore_publication
dc.description.grantnumber2020/37/B/HS6/01685
dc.description.grantnumber2017/26/D/HS6/00605
dc.description.granttitleWchodzenie w dorosłość w czasach ultra-niepewności: międzypokoleniowa teoria „rozedrganych” tranzycji
dc.description.granttitleTranzycja do macierzyństwa w trzech pokoleniach Polek
dc.description.versionfinal_author
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/00016993251336572
dc.identifier.eissn1502-3869
dc.identifier.issn0001-6993
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/1444
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationnauki socjologiczne
dc.rightsOther
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_REPOSITORY
dc.subject.enbiographical future
dc.subject.enfuture orientations
dc.subject.enpolycrisis
dc.subject.enuncertainty
dc.subject.entransitions to adulthood
dc.swps.sciencecloudnosend
dc.titlePlanning for the future in the shadow of the polycrisis: Young women's uncertain transitions to adulthood
dc.title.journalActa Sociologica
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle