Female old age among brazilian and spanish elderly women: a psychosocial study

Abstract

The phenomenon of feminization of old age is understood as a predominance of elderly women in relation to elderly men when observing an aging population. However, even with a predominantly female and elderly world, there are inequalities between the sexes that are caused by structural and socioeconomic conditions in various circumstances that modify health conditions, family dynamics and income. The study is exploratory-descriptive, with a qualitative approach, with a non-probabilistic and convenience sample. The research involves the participation of 102 Brazilian and Spanish elderly women, divided equally with 51 participants each, aged respectively between 60 and 86 years old, and 60 and 92 years old. To collect data, a sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were used. The findings demonstrate that the social representations of elderly women are anchored in difficulties that both groups present; feeling of gratitude and sadness; factors that are understood as quality of life; and also negative understandings of this phase. The results reveal that there are particularities within this experience as it causes impacts in different and individual ways. When comparing the Social Representations of the women targeted in this study on female old age, it was observed that both groups, based on their speeches, often come closer, but it also differs depending on economic, social and cultural differences between the countries studied. It is hoped that this research can contribute to the dissemination of information and expansion of the debate on the feminization of old age in a social and academic way.