Authors:Matthew Hayes, Kristi A. Allain Abstract: Drawing from ethnographic research and interviews with older North American women who migrated alone to retire in Ecuador, this article grows the body of literature on gender and ageing, examining how these women position themselves within a gender-ageing nexus, contradicting certain gender norms in their attempt to obtain later-life self-fulfilment. Particularly, we examine how this group positions the third age as a time of individual adventure and self-actualisation, challenging normative gender ideals about femininity and care but meeting (many) social expectations to “age well.” We argue that the lifestyles of these women demonstrate new experiments with gendered ageing, facilitated by global inequalities but challenging some normative ideals around femininity and old(er) age. PubDate: 2024-06-17 DOI: 10.3384/ijal.1652-8670.5031 Issue No:Vol. 17, No. 1 (2024)
Authors:Dohee Lee, Inkeri Aula, Masood Masoodian Abstract: Despite growing interest in research into how the arts impact older adults’ health and well-being, there are many related complexities that are yet to be fully understood. This is partly due to the fact that documentation and analysis of arts-based interventions and cultural programmes for older adults in the public service domain are relatively new and uncommon. Furthermore, the effective implementation and the delivery of such interventions to ageing people generally involve many stakeholders, often with divergent interests and priorities. This article presents an interview-based study that explores the diverse experiences of professionals from different sectors who have been involved in delivery of arts-based interventions and cultural programmes for older adults in South Korea and Finland. The study maps out similarities and differences in the approaches taken and the challenges faced in such interventions, using the five themes of the narrative interviews that have been conducted. The study findings highlight the need for supporting collective efforts among the diverse stakeholders to provide effective arts-based interventions and cultural programmes for ageing people. We argue that such efforts will ultimately become catalysts for synergetic actions that address the interconnected and encompassing challenges of an ageing society. PubDate: 2024-06-05 DOI: 10.3384/ijal.1652-8670.4866 Issue No:Vol. 17, No. 1 (2024)
Authors:Karima Chacur, Feliciano Villar, Rodrigo Serrat Abstract: Research on older people’s artistic participation has mainly focused on its benefits. Fewer studies have addressed the antecedents of older people’s artistic participation, especially the barriers to artistic practices, and particularly those related with contextual factors. In this study, we examined from a socioecological perspective which contextual barriers older artists perceive when they are carrying out their artistic practices. We conducted semi-structured individual interviews with 30 older visual artists and craftspeople. We found six themes relating to contextual barriers to the artistic practice: changes in cultural context; value of arts and crafts; dissemination of artistic work; financial difficulties; discrimination against women; and the covid-19 pandemic. Our study expands on previous research on antecedents of artistic participation among older people, and specifically on barriers. Finally, our study suggests the need to decrease these barriers by implementing programmes aimed at older artists maintaining their artistic practices for as long as possible. PubDate: 2024-06-04 DOI: 10.3384/ijal.1652-8670.5023 Issue No:Vol. 17, No. 1 (2024)
Authors:Emilia Häkkinen, Fredrica Nyqvist, Camilla Nordberg, Mikael Nygård, Siv Björklund, Jessica Hemberg Abstract: Previous studies suggest that older adults from minority linguistic groups are at a higher risk of experiencing social exclusion, with service exclusion being a highly evident form. This article explores how Swedish- speaking older adults in Finland experience the availability and adequacy of services in their first language and how their experiences are linked to social exclusion. Anchored in the intersection between two dimensions of social exclusion, service exclusion and identity exclusion, this study presents findings from 14 semi-structured interviews with uni- and bilingual Swedish-speaking older adults. The results indicate that inequitable access to services and facing language discordant services can shape experiences of exclusion. The inability to receive everyday services in Swedish further fosters feelings of inferiority and identity discrimination. This study findings contribute to the social gerontological literature on social exclusion and demonstrate how identity intersections with service exclusion. PubDate: 2024-05-29 DOI: 10.3384/ijal.1652-8670.4820 Issue No:Vol. 16, No. 2 (2024)
Authors:Ann-Louise Sirén, Marjaana Seppänen, Mikaela B. von Bonsdorff Abstract: A more holistic view is needed regarding the impact of life events on the quality of life of older adults. We explored how senior housing residents perceive the influence of life events on their current quality of life, from a life course perspective. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 33 residents aged 68 to 97 years from three senior houses. The thematic analysis suggested that events related to social relationships and human agency may influence quality of life in old age. Experiences that contribute to personal development, feeling safe, social connectedness, and a strong sense of human agency were perceived to add quality to life. Events that cause anxiety, reduces one’s sense of autonomy, and involve loss of social closeness were perceived to detract from quality of life. Life events can also sometimes evoke conflicting feelings. The study implies that the influence of life events depends on whether human needs are met. PubDate: 2024-05-17 DOI: 10.3384/ijal.1652-8670.4865 Issue No:Vol. 16, No. 2 (2024)
Authors:Cora van Leeuwen, An Jacobs, Ilse Mariën, Anina Vercruyssen Abstract: Adoption of digital technology by older adults has become an important topic in academia and the public sphere within the debate on digital inclusion. Likewise, this topic has gained traction in the print media also. This paper assesses the representation of older adults in print media in the past 20 years in The Netherlands and Flanders. A total of 281 articles in the Dutch language were analysed to determine the representation of older adults and their level of agency. We found that they were represented in three manners: a) ambassadors of digital skill acquisition; b) naturally lacking in digital skills; or c) not alone in being helpless. These representations clearly increased during the COVIS-19 crisis. Some representations can be problematic, as the relationship between older adults and digital inclusion is not envisioned positively. Furthermore, they receive no agency to participate actively in the discussion surrounding their own digital inclusion and are too often used as the automatic example of the digitally illiterate – which is not particularly encouraging older adults towards digital skills acquisition. PubDate: 2024-05-16 DOI: 10.3384/ijal.1652-8670.4883 Issue No:Vol. 16, No. 2 (2024)
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