Women's Wellness
Universal Basic Income and the Socio-economic Well-being of Aging Women: Broadening the Debate on Universal Basic Income and Gender Justice
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Olga Lenczewska
It has been largely argued in recent literature on socio-economic justice that Universal Basic Income (UBI) has the potential to provide a solution to feminist concerns about gender justice. UBI is often seen as an instrument of women’s freedom from male domination within both the household and the workplace: it has the potential to empower women’s economic situation, lower the cost of exiting an abusive relationship or job, and offer recognition of the value of many women’s unpaid work. In my paper, I assess what effects UBI could have on the lives of aging women in particular - women who are statistically more likely to be widowed or divorced and who are not participating in the workforce (anymore). I argue that UBI would improve aging women’s economic situation and well-being, and that - unlike alternative policy proposals, such as Job Guarantee and Basic Capital, it would have such an effect on all groups of aging women, regardless of what their history of formal employment has been (if any). The policy therefore does not favour former wage-workers or former caretakers/housewives, but has the potential to benefit both groups equally. Furthermore, given the individual character of UBI, such economic and mental improvement would be of particular significance for elderly women because they are statistically more likely to be unmarried (widowed or divorced) than younger women, and marital disruption by divorce or death of a spouse are among the most psychologically stressful life events and frequently cause socio-economic dislocation.
An Historical/Biographical Approach to Later Life in Britain : The Implications of Girlhood Experiences from 1954-76 for Women’s Later-life Experience and Identities
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Penny Tinkler
In this paper we argue for the importance of an historical and biographical approach to understanding, valuing, and working with women in later life. Our research, funded by the Economic and Research Council, focuses on women born 1939-52 who became young adults in Britain 1954-76. These women are now part of the largest ever group of over 60s in Britain; their needs and demands have unprecedented influence on politics, public services, and commerce. They are redefining ageing, making new demands on, and contributions to, society. Their pioneering approach to later life is attributed partly to their youth experiences in decades marked by profound social change (Edmunds and Turner 2002; Biggs et al 2007; Gilleard and Higgs 2007; Phillipson 2007), indeed historians suggest young women were harbingers of key postwar changes (Brown 2011, Brooke 2012), but there has been no detailed study of this generation’s youth and its resonance in later life. To present our argument we draw upon our innovative mixed methods research which includes quantitative and qualitative analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing and the National Study of Health and Development, also in-depth interviews and archival study.
Primary Assessment: Condition of Elderly Women in Salib Putih Nursing Home in Salatiga Based on Maslow Hierarchy
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Pratiwi Elingsetyo Sanubari
Projection data of the population in Indonesia shows that the elderly population goes up every year. In 2017, 23.66 million elderly will go up to 27.08 million in 2020. The number will continue going up to 49.19 million in 2035. The Indonesian government is facing this problem with limited programs, such as elderly primary health care (posyandu lansia), elderly family building (bina keluarga lansia), and the first 1000 days of life. But the programs only take care of social security and social services of the elderly. Central Java province has the number two highest number of elderly and shows that elderly women are more vulnerable than men. Elderly women have hormone change, low education, and high work demand. To help government with limited programs, social community through NGO and social organization appeared according to government regulation No 13/1998. The aims of this study is to map the elderly women's condition in Salib Putih Nursing Home based on Maslow Hierarchy. The method was qualitative using in-depth interview to twenty-three elderly women, eight elderly caretakers, and one nursing home administrator. The results show that elderly women's Maslow hierarchy stopped in love and belongingness. To respond to this matter, they are two main recommendations: reconstruction of government regulations regarding to elderly care services and integration between all sides for responsibility of elderly needs directly and indirectly.
