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Older women and their representations of old age: a qualitative analysis
- Authors:
- QUÉNIART Anne, CHARPENTIER Michèle
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 32(6), August 2012, pp.983-1007.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study examined the views of three generations of older women with different life stories (single, married, children and childless) in Quebec, Canada. Based on a qualitative analysis of 25 in-depth interviews conducted with three generations of older women, findings revealed their refusal to define themselves as ‘older or elderly women’, largely due to persistent stereotypes linking old age to dependency, social isolation and fragility. Aware of the social prejudice regarding women and old age, they reject it unanimously. Older women represent a challenge to these homogenising preconceptions of old age, which they, on the contrary, experience in a multitude of ways, often enjoyable. Their conceptions of ageing well are diverse and do not correspond to a clinical definition of ageing. Their representations of ageing well and of ageing expressed the values of physical and intellectual health, and being socially active so they could continue in the continuum of their lives and future projects, rather breaking with contemporary life or existing on the margins of society.
Recognizing and responding to loss and "rupture" in older women's accounts
- Author:
- GRENIER Amanda
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work Practice, 22(2), July 2008, pp.195-209.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
In the current context of service, emphasis on the body and impairment mean that emotional experiences are given little space within public health and social care services. Further, as much of what occurs between worker and client remains unsaid, older women's subjective interpretations become more and more difficult to hear in the current context of care. This is especially the case when the age difference of the older women and their workers are considered. In this paper, the author focuses on how particular types of time-based statements embedded within older women's narratives on "frailty" can be read around rupture and loss. Drawing attention to these statements highlights the importance of close listening and working therapeutically from the discursive clues of lived experience. Overall, older women's accounts teach us that providing the space to articulate difficult emotions is crucial to fostering connections across age and generational boundaries and allowing older women to articulate their own "successful" responses to the challenges of late life. At the same time, recognising and accounting for the experiences of loss also forms a strong counter-perspective to the rational-technical practices increasingly used in Canadian health and social care practices.
Constructions of ageing and narrative resistance in a commercial slimming group
- Author:
- GIMLIN Debra
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 27(3), May 2007, pp.407-424.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
This study focuses on the role of organisational setting and age in shaping individuals' narratives of embodied selfhood. It compares older and younger women's use of ‘narrative resistance’ to negotiate identity in light of their ageing and the negative social and personal meanings of being fat. Cordell and Ronai (1999) observed three types of narrative resistance among overweight people: loopholes, exemplars and continuums. This paper identifies two others: ‘justifications’, for behaviour that associated with weight gain, and ‘repentance’, for behaviour that reaffirmed a commitment to losing weight. Drawing from six months of participant-observation and in-depth interviews with 20 older and younger female clients of a commercial weight-loss organisation, this article shows that both the meanings women attributed to their experiences of slimming, and their opportunities for benefiting from organisational resources, varied by their stage in the lifecourse. The weight-loss group generated narrative strategies and opportunities for its members that were informed by both cultural constructions of ageing and the organisation's interests. While these strategies stopped short of empowering the clients to abandon restrictive dieting altogether, they did enable the older respondents to excuse temporary setbacks in weight loss and their deviation from (what they described as) the more exacting appearance standards of youth. At the same time, the strategic narratives reaffirmed constructions of ageing that present the older female body as uncontrollable and older women as unconcerned with physical attractiveness.
A postmodern perspective on feminist gerontology
- Author:
- RAY Ruth E.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 36(5), October 1996, pp.674-680.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This article argues the need for research in a feminist gerontology that is informed by postmodern and poststructuralist theories. Feminist gerontology is defined and described as part of a larger movement in the field toward critical gerontology. A brief summary of postmodern thought is followed by questions for researchers in gerontology and guidelines for feminist research which is interpretive, interactive, critical, and change-oriented.
Stories of contemporary aging: an analysis of “lived” citizenship in later life
- Author:
- MARCHAND Isabelle
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 61(5), 2018, pp.472-491.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The new political economy of aging portrays “active citizenship” among seniors as a key challenge for the years to come. As a policy framework, Active Aging ranks high on the agendas of most supranational bodies. Informed by discourse analysis and a narrative approach, this article focuses on, first, older women’s everyday “active” practices, their meaning, and purpose and second, their day-to-day practical citizenship and social engagement experiences. A typology consisting of four figures of “lived” citizenship is proposed. Social contribution in later age is expressed through various types of engagement identified through these citizenship figures. These figures support older women’s social anchoring and sustain their feeling of belonging to the community. However, the figures outlined also reveal tensions, produced by relations of power between “dominant citizenship” and “relational citizenship,” pertaining to social relations and to caring for the other. In the latter case, we see that the coupling of action between the choice of action and social engagements in later age is more limited, due to social and health inequalities as well as lack of opportunities throughout the life course. Finally, in order to guarantee the right to age with dignity, we suggest a change of orientation in aging policies. (Edited publisher abstract)
Groupwork as a tool to combat loneliness among older people: initial observations
- Authors:
- HEATHCOTE Julie, HONG Chia Swee
- Journal article citation:
- Groupwork, 19(2), 2009, pp.121-130.
- Publisher:
- Whiting and Birch
Predictions suggest that by 2030 a quarter of people in the UK will be over 65. Many current care strategies attempt to keep older people in their own homes. However, independent living and caring for an ageing partner is known to increase loneliness, described as an unwelcome feeling or lack of companionship. Help the Aged has suggested that participation in meaningful activities can reduce isolation and loneliness. This article describes two case studies of different groups of older people, and shows the positive impact of groups on older group members and the staff working with them. By providing companionship, engagement, support and activity, groupwork can bring structure to the lives of older people and their carers who may be feeling 'lonely' and 'isolated' and consequently can impact upon their quality of life. The author concludes that while groupwork is not the solution to reducing social isolation for everyone, for some people it is a positive step in the right direction.
Never-married childless women in Australia: health and social circumstances in older age
- Authors:
- CWIKEL Julie, GRAMOTNEV Helen, LEE Christina
- Journal article citation:
- Social Science and Medicine, 62(8), April 2006, pp.1991-2001.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
A growing proportion of women reach older age without having married or having children. Assumptions that these older women are lonely, impoverished, and high users of social and health services are based on little evidence. This paper uses data from the Older cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health to describe self-reported demographics, physical and emotional health, and use of services among 10,108 women aged 73–78, of whom 2.7% are never-married and childless. The most striking characteristic of this group is their high levels of education, which are associated with fewer reported financial difficulties and higher rates of private health insurance. There are few differences in self-reported physical or emotional health or use of health services between these and other groups of older women. Compared with older married women with children, they make higher use of formal services such as home maintenance and meal services, and are also more likely to provide volunteer services and belong to social groups. Overall, there is no evidence to suggest that these women are a “problem” group. Rather, it seems that their life experiences and opportunities prepare them for a successful and productive older age.
Women ageing: changing identities, challenging myths
- Editors:
- BERNARD Miriam, et al
- Publisher:
- Routledge
- Publication year:
- 2001
- Pagination:
- 207p.,bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
Aims to provide a better understanding of what ageing is like for women and challenges the myths which have grown up around the ageing process. It examines the range of strategies and identities women adopt to manage the transitions of the second half of the life course and uncovers not only the commonalities and similarities between mid life and older women but also some of the variation and diversity relating to ethnicity and race, class, disability and sexual orientation.
The intimate lives of older adults living with HIV: a qualitative study of the challenges associated with the intersection of HIV and ageing
- Authors:
- WALLACH Isabelle, BROTMAN Shari
- Journal article citation:
- Ageing and Society, 38(12), 2018, pp.2490-2518.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Older adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk of experiencing difficulties in their intimate lives due to the combined effects of HIV and ageing. To date, little research has focused on the lived experience of sexuality. This article seeks to fill in the gap by documenting the challenges faced by this population with respect to their intimate relationships and sexual lives. Based upon the results of a qualitative study conducted in Montreal (2010–2012) using semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of 38 people aged 50–73 and living with HIV, this study revealed several difficulties, including those related to their social location, whereby HIV and ageing intersect with other social determinants (including gender, sexual orientation and drug use). Difficulties that were identified include lower sexual desire linked to ageing, erectile changes, difficulty in using condoms, stigma related to HIV and/or ageism, changes in appearance caused by HIV and/or ageing, along with the impact of their lifecourse experiences. The results shed light on the specific nature of the difficulties experienced by older adults living with HIV with regard to their intimate lives, as well as on the importance of using an analysis that combines the theoretical approaches of intersectionality and lifecourse to enhance our capacity for understanding complex and unique experiences. (Edited publisher abstract)
The meaning of home for ageing women living alone: an evolutionary concept analysis
- Authors:
- BARRY Arro, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 26(3), 2018, pp.e337-e344.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The concept of home to women ageing should be visited in the light of ongoing cultural, political, temporal and disciplinary evolutions. In part, to compliment policies increasing focus on supporting older adults to age in place and a growing attention on the home as a place where healthcare is designed and provided. The following concept analysis utilises Rodgers’ evolutionary method to inductively analyse literature in order to elicit the meaning and experience of home among older women who are ageing at home. Literature was collected over an 18‐month period during 2014–2015 and the sample was made up of 49 articles. The analysis led to the concept of home among women ageing in communities to be defined by four attributes. These attributes are home as (i) a resource, (ii) an attachment, (iii) the precariousness of maintaining and sustaining home and (iv) a cultural expectation. This analysis of the meaning and experience of home among women ageing at home has shed light on the needs for this group of women, while highlighting the need to continue to further clarify and define the concept through research. (Publisher abstract)