Corporate Document Services; Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
Publication year:
2004
Pagination:
81p.
Place of publication:
Leeds
The study reported on here examines the processes involved in individual decision-making around retirement, the existence of group norms about working after State Pension Age, and the relative importance of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors. The research also addresses the ways in which policy could support individual choices about employment in later life, and identifies a number of distinctive
The study reported on here examines the processes involved in individual decision-making around retirement, the existence of group norms about working after State Pension Age, and the relative importance of ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors. The research also addresses the ways in which policy could support individual choices about employment in later life, and identifies a number of distinctive subgroups within the older population who would benefit from targeted policy support.
Subject terms:
labour market, older people, pensions, policy formulation, retirement, economics, employment, government departments;
Ageing and Society, 24(2), March 2004, pp.213-233.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Retirement is frequently a period of change, when the roles and relationships associated with individuals' previous labour market positions are transformed. It is also a time when personal relationships, including the marital relationship and relationships with friends and family, come under increased scrutiny and may be realigned. Many studies of adjustment to retirement focus primarily the combination of labour market and non-labour-market activities in which they are involved prior to state retirement age and as they withdraw from paid work. It explores how older people invoke various gendered identities to negotiate change and continuity during this time. The paper argues that gender roles and identities are central to this process and that the reflexive deployment of gender may rank alongside financial resources and social capital in its importance to the achievement of satisfying retirement transitions. Amongst those interviewed, traditional gendered roles predominated, and these sat less comfortably with retirement for men than for women.
Retirement is frequently a period of change, when the roles and relationships associated with individuals' previous labour market positions are transformed. It is also a time when personal relationships, including the marital relationship and relationships with friends and family, come under increased scrutiny and may be realigned. Many studies of adjustment to retirement focus primarily on individual motivation; by contrast, this paper seeks to examine the structure of resources within which such decisions are framed. The paper examines the contribution that gender roles and identities make to the overall configuration of resources available to particular individuals. It draws upon qualitative research conducted with older people in four contrasting parts of the United Kingdom, and examines the combination of labour market and non-labour-market activities in which they are involved prior to state retirement age and as they withdraw from paid work. It explores how older people invoke various gendered identities to negotiate change and continuity during this time. The paper argues that gender roles and identities are central to this process and that the reflexive deployment of gender may rank alongside financial resources and social capital in its importance to the achievement of satisfying retirement transitions. Amongst those interviewed, traditional gendered roles predominated, and these sat less comfortably with retirement for men than for women.
This report shows that the manner in which people leave paid work can have an impact on how they adjust to their new status and highlights policy changes needed to ease the transition into retirement. Those who freely chose to retire tended to have higher levels of income and more options open to them. Where people live also has an impact on how they engage outside the home after leaving paid
This report shows that the manner in which people leave paid work can have an impact on how they adjust to their new status and highlights policy changes needed to ease the transition into retirement. Those who freely chose to retire tended to have higher levels of income and more options open to them. Where people live also has an impact on how they engage outside the home after leaving paid work: for example fear of crime in inner-city areas, poor public transport links in rural areas and how geared up their area is to the needs of older people.
Subject terms:
income, leisure, leisure activities, life style, retirement, social policy, surveys, transport, decision making, demographics;