This book is about older women’s strength, freedom, tenacity, determination, resilience, independence, social and political involvement and, in particular, it is about re-imagining ageing.
Older women represent the great majority of older people. The book describes instances of age and gender discrimination and examples of social inclusion and protagonism of older women in Europe. It solicits a change in perspective, focusing on the necessary societal changes to make space to older people and older women in particular. How is society going to address age and gender discrimination in social and institutional settings? How should work settings change to effectively make space to older workers and in particular older women? How should the pension system change? How could public health systems could provide effective care to older people and be sustainable?
This edited collection focuses on older women’s rights rather than their needs, adopting a human rights based approach. Preservation of older women’s dignity, autonomy and security is its central topic, that is, ensuring that their rights are recognised. This collection offers insights valuable to a wide array of human rights activists, professionals, policymakers and social scientists, and older women themselves.
Author(s): Isabella Paoletti
Series: Social Perspectives on Ageing and Later Life
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 310
City: London
Cover
Half Title
Series Information
Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Figures
Tables
Contributors
Acknowledgements
Part I Focusing On Age and Sex Discrimination in Europe
Chapter 1 Introduction: Older Women in Europe and Their Rights
Introduction
Ageing Europe
The Green Paper On Ageing and Older Women
Aims of the Book
Intersectional Approaches
Definition of Intersectionality
Critics of the Intersectional Project and the Notion of Identity
The Focus On Discrimination Based On Sex and Age
Older Women in Europe: Exclusion and Discrimination
European Data
Stereotyping Based On Age and Sex
Gendered Ageism in Institutions
Older Women Poverty and Marginalisation
Older Women in the Work Setting
Older Women Inclusion and Protagonism
Late-life Learning
Older Women Are a Resource
Active Ageing and Older Women’s Inclusion
Societal Changes
A Human Rights-Based Approach
Defining a Human Rights-Based Approach
Rights Holders and Duty Bearers
Criticism of the Human Rights-Based Approach
Human Rights and Older People in Europe
Structure of the Volume and Presentation of the Chapters
References
Chapter 2 Dismissed and Invisible: How Human Rights Law’s Treatment of Age Discrimination Reflects the Reality of Older Women’s Experiences in Europe
Introduction
Invisibility
Protection Against Age Discrimination in EU Law
Protection Against Discrimination On Grounds of Age in ECHR Law
Dismissal
Dismissal in the CJEU
Dismissal in the ECtHR
Conclusions and Recommendations
Chapter 3 Economic Security of Women in Old Age: The Practice of Gender Equity Under Conditions of Pension Gaps and Feminisation of Households in Old Age in Europe
Introduction
Background
The Feminisation of Old Age
Economic Security
Components of Economic Security in Old Age
Objective and Methodology
The Present State of the Economic Security of Women in Their Old Age in Europe
Finance – Pensions and Other Retirement Income
Gender Gap
The Pillar Structure of Pensions
Health as the Economic Security Factor
Health Status and Life Expectancy of Women
Lack of Assistance Responses
Social Functioning
Caregivers’ Role
Transfers From Children
Life Satisfaction
Economic Security – Dependency Study
Minimum Level of Economic Security
Higher Level of Economic Security (Overall Life Satisfaction, and Satisfaction With Financial Situation)
Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 4 Drawing Attention to the Oldest Old Women
Introduction
Ageism Versus the Multitude of Ways of Ageing
Well-being and Inner Strength
Acknowledging and Protecting the Oldest Old Women’s Rights
Maintaining Agency and Control
Health and Active Ageing
Active Ageing at 80 and Over
Quality Support Services
Engagement, Quality Time Alone and Sociality
Mobility
Conclusion
References
Part II Discrimination Versus Inclusion and Protagonism: Some Examples From Various European Countries
Chapter 5 From Invisibility to Empowerment: Narratives of Older Women in Moggach’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Introduction
Moggach’s The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Literary Narratives of Older Women
Ageing Women’s Struggles
Feminism and Ageing
Successful Ageing and Older Women
India – Remedy to the Ageing West
Ageing Women and Sexuality
Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 6 Older Women’s Portrayal in Recent TV Commercials in Romania: Old, Reversed, and New Stereotypes
Introduction
What Is an Older Woman?
What Is the Social Source of These Images?
Literature Review On Roles Assigned to Older Women By the Media
Why TV Commercials?
Design of Research Methodology and Description of Data
Findings and Discussion
Discourse Analysis
Commercial 1. Proctinum
Commercial 2. Kaufland-Sir Robin Hood
Commercial 3. Doamna Data Viitoare (Missis “Next Time”)
Commercial 4. Fagaras-Covalact De Tara
Commercial 5. Mr Proper
Commercial 6. Fashion Days
Commercial 7. La Doi Pasi (“At a Stone’s Throw”)
Commercial 8. Hochland
Commercial 9. Dove
Commercial 10. Molekin Imuno
Commercial 11. Dona
Commercial 12. Telekom
Commercial 13. Elseve
Commercial 14. Dr Max
Commercial 15. Leroy Merlin, a DIY Shop
Commercial 16. Proflexon
Commercial 17. Vedixin
Content Analysis
Limitations and Further Research
Conclusion
References
Annex 1 (The Research Corpus)
Annex 2 (Encoding Schemes)
Chapter 7 Grandmothers’ Agency in Care of Grandchildren During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Turkey
Introduction
“Familialism of Care” and Childcare in Turkey
Agency in Grandmothers’ Care of Grandchildren
Methods
Data Collection
Analytic Strategy
Findings
“Step-in” Grandmothers
“Step-out” Grandmothers
“Steady” Grandmothers
Discussion and Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 8 Struggles, Social Capital and Transformation: Experiences of Older Women in Late-Life Learning
Introduction
Ageing, Women and Late-Life Learning
The Research Project
Findings and Discussion
Motivation
Struggles
Social Capital
Transformation
Conclusion
Notes
References
Chapter 9 The Importance of Remembering That Leisure Is (Also) a Human Right for the Older People: Contributions From Older Portuguese Women Who Joined a Leisure Group
Introduction
Leisure
Measuring Leisure
Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction
Measuring Quality of Life and Life Satisfaction
Active Ageing
Measuring Active Ageing
The Wednesday Tea
Hypotheses
Methods
Design and Sampling Frame
Population and Sample
Results
Descriptive Analyses
The Leisure Effect
Interview Data
Conclusion
Funding
Acknowledgements
References
Chapter 10 Older Women and Their Opportunities to Participate in Culture, Creativity and the Arts in Later Life
Introduction
Background: Women and the Arts
About the Study
The Participants and a Brief Description of the Interviews
Analyses of the Interviews: Discussion About Arts and Culture at Present and in the Past – as Told By Older Women
Some Methodological Reflections
Theme I. Difficulties and Obstacles in Artistic Creation and Cultural Practice
Lack of Time Due to Family Responsibilities
Lack of Time Due to Employment
Lack of Art Education
Illness
Death and Dying
Theme II. Ways to Overcome Difficulties in Connection With Artistic Creation and Cultural Practice
Retirement as a Time for Art
Retirement Was So Boring
Prioritizing
Networking
Partners, Family and Friends
Focus and Discipline
Approach to Technology as a Resource in Artistic Activity
Conclusions and Comments
Notes
References
Chapter 11 Reimagining Older Women: From Followers to Active Community Leadership
Introduction
Theoretical Background
Context of the Research Project and Design
Initial Framing and Steps Towards Transformation
Stepping Out of the Frame: Martha (85)
Stepping Out of the Frame: Susan (67)
Stepping Out of the Frame: Jane (54)
PAR as Élan Vital for Reimagining Yourself
References
Chapter 12 Conclusion: Rethinking Ageing Societies
A Necessary Change of Perspective
Reinventing Ageing
Older Women Fighting for Their Rights
Recommendations
References
Index
