Understanding diversity in later life through images of old age

Datos Bibliográficos

ID11202604
AutoresFriederike Enßle‐reinhardt (0000-0002-7896-4120, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, autor de correspondencia), I Helbrecht (0000-0001-6992-6002, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin)
Año2021
Volumen41
Número10
Páginas2396-2415
Fecha de publicación2021-10-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x20000379
OpenAlexW3015508325
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas15
Referencias citadas53

This article aims to enhance the conceptual debate on diversity in old age by exploring the interplay of diversity in later life and images of old age. We argue that the analysis of images of old age on the micro-level is a fruitful methodology in order to unravel the meaning of diversity in later life. Drawing on findings from qualitative research in Berlin, we explore how new and diverse imaginations, experiences and lifestyles of old age emerge. The conceptual focus on images of old age enables us to investigate further what diversity in later life comprises and how it simultaneously fosters the genesis of new images of old age. The manifold new images we found in our research suggest that prevalent societal discourses about old age on the macro-level are rather deceptive and represent mostly stereotypes such as ‘active agers’ or ‘frail and dependent elders’. We offer three explanations why alternative images of old age are currently barely present in public discourse: (a) the actors transmitting images of age; (b) the institutionalisation of the images; and (c) the challenge to communicate complexity. We conclude by suggesting that images of old age are a promising starting point to explore and make visible both the diversity of social groups within the older generation as well as the heterogeneity of older individuals

Age groups · Diversity (politics) · Focus (optics) · Institutionalisation · Macro level · Meaning (existential) · Sociology · Aging and Gerontology Research · Anthropology · Demography · Gender Studies · Health disparities and outcomes · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics