836 Journal of Marriage and Family not already mention marriage or expectations of nomena are patterns of intentions across inform- marriage,the first author asked participants to ants. Component phenomena emerged from describe their thoughts regarding these issues. analyses by examining similarities and differen- The first author also asked if there was anything ces of intentions across respondents.Finally, unique about being a never-married woman at phenomena,which are the broadest level of their age.Finally,they were asked to describe analysis,represent general patterns among com- their experiences with family and friends.The ponent phenomena.In other words,we looked interview guide is available on request. for relations among patterns across informants Subsequent interviews were conducted to (Porter,1994).Throughout the analysis process, elicit further descriptions of the women's unique we discussed intentions and emerging phenom- experiences;the purpose of these interviews was ena with each other and with colleagues. to help them further sharpen the descriptions of their experiences.This procedure is common in phenomenological research (Redden-Reitz. 1999).The first question in the second and third RESULTS interviews was "Has anything changed since Uncertainty characterized the experiences of the we last spoke?"Several women said that they never-married women in our sample.As we delin- had continued to think about issues between in eate the findings,we illuminate respondents'voi- terviews.Some women began subsequent inter- ces.In addition to using participants'lengthy views by sharing thoughts that had arisen responses,when possible,we denoted their word between interviews.The second and third inter- choices by enclosing single words or brief phrases views were tailored for each participant,as the in quotation marks.One woman articulated her data from the previous interview(s)had been experience of being never married as "living in transcribed and analyzed. the gray”-that is,being“in the middle”or Data Analysis Like all or nothing.it is either-you assume it [your life]is either going to be great or horrible. Interviews were transcribed verbatim by the first You just have to get better at accepting the fact that you don't know,it is probably somewhere in author and checked for accuracy.Data analysis between and you are just going to have to wait began after the first interview.Each idea was and see. considered a data analysis unit (Porter,1994). Transcripts were read and coded broadly by dis- Within the state of uncertainty,the overriding tinguishing among irrelevant data,life-world phenomenon of respondents'experiences was context,and lived experience.Irrelevant data "going back and forth."They wavered as they not germane to the experience of interest were were figuring out their lives and trying to be okay not included in the analysis.Life-world context “in the gray.”They engaged in introspection, included data about respondents'social environ- particularly examining the timing of their life ment and was not included in the present analysis. events.They fluctuated in their evaluations of Data about the lived experience of never having their life pathways,sometimes knowing that they been married included how the respondent made were on the path they were supposed to be on, sense of her experiences,including her thoughts, and,at other times,worrying that something actions,and intentions.For example,"I think was wrong with them.They grappled with inter- something is wrong with me"was considered nal and external messages about socially sanc- lived experience data. tioned timing of marriage and children. Lived experience data were grouped into three levels:intentions,component phenomena,and phenomena (Porter,1994).Intentions are the Figuring Out Their Lives:Reflecting on Life Pathways ways in which respondents understand and shape their experiences.Researchers intuit inten- Women reflected intently on their life courses.They tions by simultaneously describing,comparing, described doing the math,questioning the direction distinguishing,and inferring from data(Husserl, of their lives,and comparing to others.A consider- 1962/1913).Specifically,data were analyzed by able source of tension was related to the timing of continually asking,"What is the woman trying having biological children;they described "doing to do with this experience?"Component phe- the math,"calculating the perceived time availablenot already mention marriage or expectations of marriage, the first author asked participants to describe their thoughts regarding these issues. The first author also asked if there was anything unique about being a never-married woman at their age. Finally, they were asked to describe their experiences with family and friends. The interview guide is available on request. Subsequent interviews were conducted to elicit further descriptions of the women’s unique experiences; the purpose of these interviews was to help them further sharpen the descriptions of their experiences. This procedure is common in phenomenological research (Redden-Reitz, 1999). The first question in the second and third interviews was ‘‘Has anything changed since we last spoke?’’ Several women said that they had continued to think about issues between in￾terviews. Some women began subsequent inter￾views by sharing thoughts that had arisen between interviews. The second and third inter￾views were tailored for each participant, as the data from the previous interview(s) had been transcribed and analyzed. Data Analysis Interviews were transcribed verbatim by the first author and checked for accuracy. Data analysis began after the first interview. Each idea was considered a data analysis unit (Porter, 1994). Transcripts were read and coded broadly by dis￾tinguishing among irrelevant data, life-world context, and lived experience. Irrelevant data not germane to the experience of interest were not included in the analysis. Life-world context included data about respondents’ social environ￾ment and was not included in the present analysis. Data about the lived experience of never having been married included how the respondent made sense of her experiences, including her thoughts, actions, and intentions. For example, ‘‘I think something is wrong with me’’ was considered lived experience data. Lived experience data were grouped into three levels: intentions, component phenomena, and phenomena (Porter, 1994). Intentions are the ways in which respondents understand and shape their experiences. Researchers intuit inten￾tions by simultaneously describing, comparing, distinguishing, and inferring from data (Husserl, 1962/1913). Specifically, data were analyzed by continually asking, ‘‘What is the woman trying to do with this experience?’’ Component phe￾nomena are patterns of intentions across inform￾ants. Component phenomena emerged from analyses by examining similarities and differen￾ces of intentions across respondents. Finally, phenomena, which are the broadest level of analysis, represent general patterns among com￾ponent phenomena. In other words, we looked for relations among patterns across informants (Porter, 1994). Throughout the analysis process, we discussed intentions and emerging phenom￾ena with each other and with colleagues. RESULTS Uncertainty characterized the experiences of the never-married women in our sample. As we delin￾eate the findings, we illuminate respondents’ voi￾ces. In addition to using participants’ lengthy responses, when possible, we denoted their word choices by enclosing single words or brief phrases in quotation marks. One woman articulated her experience of being never married as ‘‘living in the gray’’—that is, being ‘‘in the middle’’ or Like all or nothing, it is either—you assume it [your life] is either going to be great or horrible. You just have to get better at accepting the fact that you don’t know, it is probably somewhere in between and you are just going to have to wait and see. Within the state of uncertainty, the overriding phenomenon of respondents’ experiences was ‘‘going back and forth.’’ They wavered as they were figuring out their lives and trying to be okay ‘‘in the gray.’’ They engaged in introspection, particularly examining the timing of their life events. They fluctuated in their evaluations of their life pathways, sometimes knowing that they were on the path they were supposed to be on, and, at other times, worrying that something was wrong with them. They grappled with inter￾nal and external messages about socially sanc￾tioned timing of marriage and children. Figuring Out Their Lives: Reflecting on Life Pathways Women reflected intently on their life courses. They described doing the math, questioning the direction of their lives, and comparing to others. A consider￾able source of tension was related to the timing of having biological children; they described ‘‘doing the math,’’ calculating the perceived time available 836 Journal of Marriage and Family