Divorce in Finnish women's life stories: Defining 'moral' behaviour

The aim of this article is to examine how women with children define 'moral' behaviour in relation to the issue of divorce. The data consist of life stories written by married Finnish mothers who say that they have contemplated divorce or separation. The analytical focus is on how the decision process is narratively constructed. The theories around a feminist ethic of care provide the theoretical framework for the discussion, and I examine how concrete individuals in specific situations negotiate morality. The narrators present their decision to divorce or stay married as a moral dilemma and argue for their own solutions in moral terms. I also consider the consequences of using an ethic of care in the study of divorce. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.