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The Hindu - http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/the-feminisation-of-old-age/article3953074.ece
INDIA - THE FEMINISATION OF OLD AGE
Frederika Meijer
- October 1, 2012
According to the World Population
Prospects: The 2010 Revision , the current youth bulge in the country is
expected to last till 2025, after which, the growth rate of the elderly is
likely to take over. It is imperative that the current needs of the youth and
the emerging needs of the elderly are addressed simultaneously within the
diverse demographic fabric of the country. In 2009, there were 88 million
elderly people in
By 2050, women over 60 years would exceed the number of elderly men by 18.4 million, which would result in a unique characteristic of ‘feminisation’ of the elderly population in India as is being experienced in many provinces of China. In fact, the two most populous nations will together contribute to 38 per cent of the global elderly population.
Ageing Differently
The predicament of elderly women is aggravated by a life time of gender-based discrimination. The gendered nature of ageing is such that universally, women tend to live longer than men. In the advanced age of 80 years and above, widowhood dominates the status of women with 71 per cent of women and only 29 per cent of men having lost their spouse. Social mores inhibit women from re-marrying, resulting in an increased likelihood of women ending up alone.The life of a widow is riddled with stringent moral codes, with integral rights relinquished and liberties circumvented. Social bias often results in unjust allocation of resources, neglect, abuse, exploitation, gender-based violence, lack of access to basic services and prevention of ownership of assets. Ageing women are more likely to get excluded from social security schemes due to lower literacy and awareness levels.
Angst of Ageing
While narratives may vary, the stories of ageing women are those of loss and loneliness. During my interactions with residents of an old-age home it was evident that many are forced to either live in a house uncared for or leave their homes with nowhere to go to. Consumed by isolation, Radha Sanyal{+*}confided that she decided to walk out with dignity before her family could actually propose the same. But living in temple premises, public parks and pavements deprives her of the dignity that she wrestled to preserve in the first place.
Although the degree of isolation may vary, with urbanisation and nuclear families on the rise, elderly women living in metropolitan cities are more likely to feel socially alienated than their rural counterparts. Challenges of health security get aggravated by the fact that elderly women often tend to underplay their ailments. Pre-occupation with nursing an ailing spouse, lack of awareness, nutritional deficiencies or simply neglect are some of the reasons that often take an adverse toll on their health.
While investing for old age is important it is equally critical to safeguard ownership of assets. Religious dogmas on liberation serve to allay the brutal contours of existence. That explains why widowed destitute elderly women seek refuge at pilgrim spots. The promise of salvation after death helps them in embracing the hardship that dominates the last years of their lives.
‘Longevity’ Dividend
Just as all things end, so would the
effects of
In order to address this unprecedented demographic shift it is necessary to to understanding the challenges of an ageing population. A joint study by the United Nations Population Fund and Helpage International called ‘Global Report on Ageing’ seeks to fill the knowledge gap. It is to be released nationwide on October 1, 2012, on the International Day for Older People.
It has been a decade since the adoption of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (Mipaa). Its bold agenda focused on three priority areas: older persons and development; advancing health and well-being into old age; and ensuring enabling and supportive environments.
As a signatory to
Innumerable reasons add up to make ageing
women in