Aging Women

The prejudice against old age and the accompanying problem of ageism appear as a problem that affects society in general and affects developing societies as well as developed societies. When the aging process is considered, the individual's new social identity attributions and searches may affect some segments of society more than others in socioeconomic dynamics. In this article, women's aging experience and some of the problems they face are tried to be addressed and discussed. 

It is undeniable that many studies have been conducted on the existence of certain dynamics and identity concepts that women are expected to follow, starting from their birth. Processes of meeting social expectations that begin with becoming a young girl who has entered adolescence, the maternal identity she acquires if she chooses in the future, and being treated as a more sacred creature by getting rid of the sinfulness that comes with being a woman, especially attributed by some religions, are constantly evolving with new angles that need to be adapted, determines women's place in life. Although the situation is not so pessimistic with the increase in feminist movements and social consciousness in today's modern world, it is a fact that this understanding has been general for a large segment of societies over the years.

So, what about after?

"An aged woman"

For women, being old is not only a process of gaining a new identity and re-adapting to their new place in society but also a loss of youth and beauty associated with aging. The dynamics that women experience throughout their lives define them in different ways. Therefore, their identity formation processes may vary depending on their appearance and how they are perceived. At best, if she is in a position of power or wealth, the effects of those aspects of her loss that "make her a woman" may be less critical in her life. Apart from this, aging women may be exposed to double discrimination due to both their gender and age. 

Aged women usually do not care if they are actively engaged in conflict and struggle for their identity; perhaps because they have less to lose at this point in their lives and have a much clearer understanding of their identity, they begin to take a more active role in libertarian movements.

Calasanti (2003) explains the reason for the inequality dynamics brought by ageism within the perspective of feminist theory:

"...This happens because we live in a society that values youth and views old age as a period of decline. Classic feminist theory recognizes race, class, and gender as the primary organizing principles of power; age is rarely conceptualized as an additional master status that also provides advantages and disadvantages,..." 

You can have access to the article:

https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/47/5/705/718728