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Gendered Meanings of Care Work Within Late Life Marital Relationships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Kate Davidson ,
Sara Arber  and
Jay Ginn
Kate Davidson
Affiliation:
University of Surrey
Sara Arber
Affiliation:
University of Surrey
Jay Ginn
Affiliation:
University of Surrey
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Abstract

Most care of older, ailing or disabled people within the home is carried out by a spouse. This paper examines late life marriage and the gendered consequences of caring for older married people in England. Qualitative interview data are analysed to contrast the sense of autonomy of older men and women while caring for a spouse and after widowhood. By encouraging older people to reflect retrospectively on the meaning of their caring roles, we illuminate the process of adjusting to transitions after long-term marriage. The research data indicate that gendered roles and expectations are crucial in understanding the mainly negative experience of older women as carers, in contrast to the more positive experience of older men.

Résumé

La plupart des soins accordés aux aîné(e)s malades ou invalides qui vivent dans leur foyer sont à la charge du conjoint. Ce texte examine les dernières années de la vie de couple et les répercussions sur chaque membre du couple qui accorde des soins; l'étude a été effectuée en Angleterre. On a analysé des données d'entrevue qualitative pour faire ressortir le sens d'autonomie des aîné(e)s, hommes et femmes, qui prennent soin d'un conjoint et leur veuvage. En encourageant les aîné(e)s à se pencher après coup sur le sens de leur rôle de soignant, on fait la lumière sur l'ajustement à la transition qui suit un long mariage. La recherche indique que les rôles en fonction des sexes et les attentes sont essentielles à la compréhension des expériences souvent négatives des femmes âgées soignantes, par rapport aux expériences plus positives des hommes aînés.

Keywords

GenderCaringLong-Term MarriageWidowhoodDependence.Genresoignantlong mariageveuvagedépendance.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , Hiver/Winter 2000 , pp. 536 - 553
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2000

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