Older Women in Europe: A Human Rights-Based Approach (Social Perspectives on Ageing and Later Life)

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. 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 "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, focussing 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 the work settings should change to effectively make space to older workers and in particular older women? How the pension system should change? How the 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. The preservation of older women's dignity, autonomy and security is its central topic, that is, ensuring that their rights are recognized. This collection offers insights valuable to a wide array of Human Rights activists, professionals, policy makers and social scientists and older women themselves"-- Provided by publisher