Author(s): Meerambika Patnaik

Abstract: Global population ageing is a contemporary social reality. There is a steady growth in the absolute number of older persons and their share in the total population worldwide. Feminisation of ageing is a common demographic feature observed in most countries, including, India. Feminisation of ageing is primarily a consequence of the higher life expectancy of women than men. On the one hand, longer life expectancy of females is a victory over the dominance and deprivation of this gender throughout life that they manage to survive longer despite all challenges.

On the other hand, this also means that their lives will be fraught with many challenges at a later age. Older women experience a unique set of challenges and marginalisations due to the intersection of their age and gender along with other intersecting factors such as their race, caste, geographical location, financial position, and other social locations, which can make ageing a distraught experience. Thus, the phenomenon of feminisation of ageing necessitates planning and implementing policies designed for women to ensure optimum quality of life at a later age.

This paper highlights some of the key economic concerns of older women and argues for a life course approach to planning and implementing policies designed for women to ensure optimum quality of life at older age.

DOI:10.61165/sk.publisher.v11i12.15

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Feminisation of ageing and old age security: The Indian Context

Pages:75-78