Sixteenth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experiences of women over fifty who had experienced involuntary job loss, the barriers faced to reemployment, and the ways women overcame the barriers, and to compare these experiences to the experiences of men. The research questions for this study examined the participants’ perceptions of these three constructs. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to gather data from a convenience sample of ten women in a northeastern metropolitan city. The theoretical frameworks of Bandura and Leana and Feldman guided this study. Data from transcripts were manually coded and aligned with the appropriate research question. A transcendental approach led to identified themes and meanings of data gathered from audio-taped interviews. The findings indicated that women and men view and cope with job loss differently. The findings can be used to inform organizational leaders of the need for greater emphasis on programs offering solutions to older female workers seeking reemployment. The study promotes potential positive social change by informing organizational leaders of the experiences of women over fifty who had experienced involuntary job loss. These leaders can apply these findings when improving hiring practices and policies that directly affect older workers.