Gemma M Carney
Biographic Data
| ID | 4894968 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Gemma M Carney |
| GIVEN NAMES | Gemma M |
| FAMILY NAME | Carney |
| SIGNATURE | CARNEY G M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Queen's University Belfast |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1879-0229 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 51 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1999 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Autoethnography of mothering
These are four poems from a collection that burst out of me around the time of my 50th birthday. I am a social and cultural gerontologist and so 50 is a particularly significant age—it is the marker of having finally qualified as an older person, at least in physiological terms. It also signifies menopause and the end of the reproductive stage of life. That significant birthday coincided with my eldest son reaching adulthood. This confluence of l…
Is there truth in fiction? Lessons from readers’ responses to dementia fiction
This paper addresses the question 'is there truth in fiction?', by synthesising a range of disciplinary approaches to the issue, as well as drawing on empirical research carried out with readers of fiction about dementia (hereafter, dementia fiction). We argue that fiction-perhaps because of its fictional status and apparatus-invites readers to consider its truth value, to explore the possibilities of human experience and interrogate issues relat…
Oldies come bottom of Grim Reaper hierarchy
This article examines UK newspaper coverage during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic March-August 2020. A qualitative framing analysis of public messaging on age in five high circulation newspapers provides a detailed account of who is deemed to be at risk of dying from COVID-19. Newspapers represent older people as most at risk, with disability as a secondary factor. Reports on who is responsible, who is at risk, and who is to blame for de…
Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is defined by the World Health Organization as actions that cause distress or harm to an older person, including neglect and lack of appropriate action by individuals or organizations responsible for their welfare. Elder abuse is a complex, diverse, and socially constructed problem that has a long history. Historians found evidence of elder abuse as far back as ancient Greece
Toward a gender politics of aging
The article proposes a Gender Politics of Aging approach to the study of aging societies. The approach recognizes the feminization of old age, ageism's roots in sexist discourse, and the need to recognize the role of politics in driving demographic debates. Drawing together arguments from feminist gerontology and political demography, the article argues that the intersection of politics and gender must be considered if appropriate responses to an…
Imagining their Future Selves
Studies eliciting the views of children on ageing are rare, particularly those that focus on imagining a future self as an ‘old’ person and how this might be linked to current attitudes to older people. To address this gap, 2,365 children participated in an online survey which included questions on ageing. Findings suggest that children who hold negative views about old people visualise poorer outcomes for themselves at age 70. Implications of th…
A View from Old Age’
This article uses interview data gathered during a collaborative cross-disciplinary project undertaken in 2016 to explore experiences of longevity in qualitative detail with a small cohort of Northern Irish participants. The project was inspired by Penelope Lively’s autobiography Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time (2013, 4, 199), which documents the author’s feelings about her life through focused reflections on her own possessions. Livel…
Unmasking the ‘elderly mystique’
Emergent reconstruction' in grounded theory
Constructivist grounded theory (CGT) methods render an interpretive portrayal, a construction of reality, strengthened when the process of construction is acknowledged. An Irish team study uses CGT to explore intergenerational solidarity at individual, familial and societal levels, and their interface. The study data comprise interviews with 100 people from diverse socio-economic and age groups. The article contributes insights on applying CGT in…
Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt’
Ireland has gained a reputation for peaceable acceptance of austerity following a European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout in 2010. While proponents of austerity praise Ireland’s stoicism, critics of global capitalism argue that individuals and families are paying for mistakes made by elites. However, little is known about the strategies people adopt to cope with cutbacks to welfare entitlements. Drawing on a study of solidarity between…
Women (Re)Negotiating Care across Family Generations
Changing Generations, a study of intergenerational relations in Ireland undertaken between 2011 and 2013 by the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC), Trinity College, Dublin, and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG), NUI Galway, used the Constructivist Grounded Theory method to interrogate support and care provision between generations. This article draws on interviews with 52 women ages 18 to 102, allowing for simultaneous …
Consumption of care and intergenerational relations in the Irish context
An ageing demographic and changing family practices in Western societies raise the\nquestion as to what kind of care landscape will emerge. An Irish study explores\npractices, experiences and meanings of relations between generations at family and\nsocietal levels using constructivist grounded theory. A process of 'generational\nobserving' is found to be reshaping care practices albeit in ways that are contoured by class
Participatory action research with and within community activist groups
The inclusion of community activists in policy planning is increasingly recognized at the highest international level. This article shows how the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR) can present a deeper and more holistic picture of the experiences of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in shaping national-level social policy. By utilizing action-based research, the Community and Voluntary Pillar (CVP) of Ireland’s system of social partnersh…
Intergenerational Solidarity and Justice in Ireland
Gross domestic product plummets. Unemployment soars. Large-scale emigration reemerges after a decade of labor-market driven immigration. The International Monetary Fund and European Union are called to bail out the economy. Indebtedness haunts households in the aftermath of a spectacular housing market crash. The Celtic Tiger is firmly consigned to history books as Ireland’s economic fortunes have waned with unprecedented rapidity. The trials of …
Citizenship and structured dependency
This paper argues that the structured dependency thesis must be extended to incorporate political power. It outlines a political framework of analysis with which to identify who gains and who loses from social policy. I argue that public policy for older people is a product not only of social structures but also of political decision-making. The Schneider and Ingram (1993) ‘target populations’ model is used to investigate how the social construct…
Can We Bridge the Theoretical Gap or Merely Generalize
The Impact of Norms in International Society, by Arie Kacowicz, has all the attributes of a valuable piece of qualitative research: a strong analytical base combined with detailed and accurate empirical inquiry. The book is full of interesting evidence indicating that local and regional norms were adhered to under a variety of circumstances and throughout different periods of time in Latin American history. In theory, this is compelling evidence …
Feminism, the Women's Movement and the Internationalisation of Gender Equality Policy
Gender mainstreaming represents a significant change in the policy and practice of the Irish state on gender issues. This article examines the role of the women's movement in developing the theory and practice surrounding gender mainstreaming in the Republic of Ireland. It, therefore, critically examines the extent to which non-governmental organizations are involved in the adoption and implementation of internationally driven policy at domestic …
The effect of candidate gender on voting in Ireland, 1997∗
Women (Re)Negotiating Care across Family Generations
Changing Generations, a study of intergenerational relations in Ireland undertaken between 2011 and 2013 by the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC), Trinity College, Dublin, and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG), NUI Galway, used the Constructivist Grounded Theory method to interrogate support and care provision between generations. This article draws on interviews with 52 women ages 18 to 102, allowing for simultaneous …
Emergent reconstruction' in grounded theory
Constructivist grounded theory (CGT) methods render an interpretive portrayal, a construction of reality, strengthened when the process of construction is acknowledged. An Irish team study uses CGT to explore intergenerational solidarity at individual, familial and societal levels, and their interface. The study data comprise interviews with 100 people from diverse socio-economic and age groups. The article contributes insights on applying CGT in…
Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt’
Ireland has gained a reputation for peaceable acceptance of austerity following a European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout in 2010. While proponents of austerity praise Ireland’s stoicism, critics of global capitalism argue that individuals and families are paying for mistakes made by elites. However, little is known about the strategies people adopt to cope with cutbacks to welfare entitlements. Drawing on a study of solidarity between…
The effect of candidate gender on voting in Ireland, 1997∗
Consumption of care and intergenerational relations in the Irish context
An ageing demographic and changing family practices in Western societies raise the\nquestion as to what kind of care landscape will emerge. An Irish study explores\npractices, experiences and meanings of relations between generations at family and\nsocietal levels using constructivist grounded theory. A process of 'generational\nobserving' is found to be reshaping care practices albeit in ways that are contoured by class
Citizenship and structured dependency
This paper argues that the structured dependency thesis must be extended to incorporate political power. It outlines a political framework of analysis with which to identify who gains and who loses from social policy. I argue that public policy for older people is a product not only of social structures but also of political decision-making. The Schneider and Ingram (1993) ‘target populations’ model is used to investigate how the social construct…
Is there truth in fiction? Lessons from readers’ responses to dementia fiction
This paper addresses the question 'is there truth in fiction?', by synthesising a range of disciplinary approaches to the issue, as well as drawing on empirical research carried out with readers of fiction about dementia (hereafter, dementia fiction). We argue that fiction-perhaps because of its fictional status and apparatus-invites readers to consider its truth value, to explore the possibilities of human experience and interrogate issues relat…
A View from Old Age’
This article uses interview data gathered during a collaborative cross-disciplinary project undertaken in 2016 to explore experiences of longevity in qualitative detail with a small cohort of Northern Irish participants. The project was inspired by Penelope Lively’s autobiography Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time (2013, 4, 199), which documents the author’s feelings about her life through focused reflections on her own possessions. Livel…
Intergenerational Solidarity and Justice in Ireland
Gross domestic product plummets. Unemployment soars. Large-scale emigration reemerges after a decade of labor-market driven immigration. The International Monetary Fund and European Union are called to bail out the economy. Indebtedness haunts households in the aftermath of a spectacular housing market crash. The Celtic Tiger is firmly consigned to history books as Ireland’s economic fortunes have waned with unprecedented rapidity. The trials of …
Feminism, the Women's Movement and the Internationalisation of Gender Equality Policy
Gender mainstreaming represents a significant change in the policy and practice of the Irish state on gender issues. This article examines the role of the women's movement in developing the theory and practice surrounding gender mainstreaming in the Republic of Ireland. It, therefore, critically examines the extent to which non-governmental organizations are involved in the adoption and implementation of internationally driven policy at domestic …
The effect of candidate gender on voting in Ireland, 1997∗
Feminism, the Women's Movement and the Internationalisation of Gender Equality Policy
Gender mainstreaming represents a significant change in the policy and practice of the Irish state on gender issues. This article examines the role of the women's movement in developing the theory and practice surrounding gender mainstreaming in the Republic of Ireland. It, therefore, critically examines the extent to which non-governmental organizations are involved in the adoption and implementation of internationally driven policy at domestic …
Can We Bridge the Theoretical Gap or Merely Generalize
The Impact of Norms in International Society, by Arie Kacowicz, has all the attributes of a valuable piece of qualitative research: a strong analytical base combined with detailed and accurate empirical inquiry. The book is full of interesting evidence indicating that local and regional norms were adhered to under a variety of circumstances and throughout different periods of time in Latin American history. In theory, this is compelling evidence …
Citizenship and structured dependency
This paper argues that the structured dependency thesis must be extended to incorporate political power. It outlines a political framework of analysis with which to identify who gains and who loses from social policy. I argue that public policy for older people is a product not only of social structures but also of political decision-making. The Schneider and Ingram (1993) ‘target populations’ model is used to investigate how the social construct…
Participatory action research with and within community activist groups
The inclusion of community activists in policy planning is increasingly recognized at the highest international level. This article shows how the use of Participatory Action Research (PAR) can present a deeper and more holistic picture of the experiences of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in shaping national-level social policy. By utilizing action-based research, the Community and Voluntary Pillar (CVP) of Ireland’s system of social partnersh…
Intergenerational Solidarity and Justice in Ireland
Gross domestic product plummets. Unemployment soars. Large-scale emigration reemerges after a decade of labor-market driven immigration. The International Monetary Fund and European Union are called to bail out the economy. Indebtedness haunts households in the aftermath of a spectacular housing market crash. The Celtic Tiger is firmly consigned to history books as Ireland’s economic fortunes have waned with unprecedented rapidity. The trials of …
Consumption of care and intergenerational relations in the Irish context
An ageing demographic and changing family practices in Western societies raise the\nquestion as to what kind of care landscape will emerge. An Irish study explores\npractices, experiences and meanings of relations between generations at family and\nsocietal levels using constructivist grounded theory. A process of 'generational\nobserving' is found to be reshaping care practices albeit in ways that are contoured by class
Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt’
Ireland has gained a reputation for peaceable acceptance of austerity following a European Union/International Monetary Fund bailout in 2010. While proponents of austerity praise Ireland’s stoicism, critics of global capitalism argue that individuals and families are paying for mistakes made by elites. However, little is known about the strategies people adopt to cope with cutbacks to welfare entitlements. Drawing on a study of solidarity between…
Women (Re)Negotiating Care across Family Generations
Changing Generations, a study of intergenerational relations in Ireland undertaken between 2011 and 2013 by the Social Policy and Ageing Research Centre (SPARC), Trinity College, Dublin, and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology (ICSG), NUI Galway, used the Constructivist Grounded Theory method to interrogate support and care provision between generations. This article draws on interviews with 52 women ages 18 to 102, allowing for simultaneous …
Unmasking the ‘elderly mystique’
Emergent reconstruction' in grounded theory
Constructivist grounded theory (CGT) methods render an interpretive portrayal, a construction of reality, strengthened when the process of construction is acknowledged. An Irish team study uses CGT to explore intergenerational solidarity at individual, familial and societal levels, and their interface. The study data comprise interviews with 100 people from diverse socio-economic and age groups. The article contributes insights on applying CGT in…
Toward a gender politics of aging
The article proposes a Gender Politics of Aging approach to the study of aging societies. The approach recognizes the feminization of old age, ageism's roots in sexist discourse, and the need to recognize the role of politics in driving demographic debates. Drawing together arguments from feminist gerontology and political demography, the article argues that the intersection of politics and gender must be considered if appropriate responses to an…
Imagining their Future Selves
Studies eliciting the views of children on ageing are rare, particularly those that focus on imagining a future self as an ‘old’ person and how this might be linked to current attitudes to older people. To address this gap, 2,365 children participated in an online survey which included questions on ageing. Findings suggest that children who hold negative views about old people visualise poorer outcomes for themselves at age 70. Implications of th…
A View from Old Age’
This article uses interview data gathered during a collaborative cross-disciplinary project undertaken in 2016 to explore experiences of longevity in qualitative detail with a small cohort of Northern Irish participants. The project was inspired by Penelope Lively’s autobiography Ammonites and Leaping Fish: A Life in Time (2013, 4, 199), which documents the author’s feelings about her life through focused reflections on her own possessions. Livel…
Elder Abuse
Elder abuse is defined by the World Health Organization as actions that cause distress or harm to an older person, including neglect and lack of appropriate action by individuals or organizations responsible for their welfare. Elder abuse is a complex, diverse, and socially constructed problem that has a long history. Historians found evidence of elder abuse as far back as ancient Greece
Is there truth in fiction? Lessons from readers’ responses to dementia fiction
This paper addresses the question 'is there truth in fiction?', by synthesising a range of disciplinary approaches to the issue, as well as drawing on empirical research carried out with readers of fiction about dementia (hereafter, dementia fiction). We argue that fiction-perhaps because of its fictional status and apparatus-invites readers to consider its truth value, to explore the possibilities of human experience and interrogate issues relat…
Oldies come bottom of Grim Reaper hierarchy
This article examines UK newspaper coverage during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic March-August 2020. A qualitative framing analysis of public messaging on age in five high circulation newspapers provides a detailed account of who is deemed to be at risk of dying from COVID-19. Newspapers represent older people as most at risk, with disability as a secondary factor. Reports on who is responsible, who is at risk, and who is to blame for de…
Autoethnography of mothering
These are four poems from a collection that burst out of me around the time of my 50th birthday. I am a social and cultural gerontologist and so 50 is a particularly significant age—it is the marker of having finally qualified as an older person, at least in physiological terms. It also signifies menopause and the end of the reproductive stage of life. That significant birthday coincided with my eldest son reaching adulthood. This confluence of l…
Sociology (15 works) · Political science (13 works) · Law (11 works) · Politics (8 works) · Psychology (7 works) · Gender Studies (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Aging and Gerontology Research (5 works) · Social science (5 works) · Epistemology (4 works)