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Saying this can be a way of denying ageing and death. Denial and dread are not surprising because of the way most of us think about our older years. In our society we construct ageing as a miserable time of decline and disability. We take on ageist and sexist notions of ugly bodies, asexuality, and loss of roles as mothers, wives and workers. No wonder older women are often seen as a burden, dependent and expendable. But, let me tell you, we older women don't see ourselves that way, and we have some great fun even in our serious activities for example, in the Older Women's Network. Two-thirds of those who live on past the age of 75 are women. Two-thirds of us live alone, sometimes in a social and geographical isolation enforced by poverty. Many of us have little more than the pension to live on. A large number of us are in need of adequate housing. But, at present, forms of housing supported by the state and/or churches often reduce social independence, neglect human rights and the residents experience them as disempowerment. As a result of the work of the feminist movement, the next generation of women have fortunately experienced greater opportunities for education, training, well paid jobs and retirement income. The ABS Families Survey showed that older women are an important resource for their families and communities as leaders and decision makers. We provide financial help and care to both younger and older family members. In fact, most voluntary work of all kinds is done by older women. Far from being sick and a burden on the system, as politicians and medical empire builders make out, we enjoy a healthier, more active life, fewer years of disability and greater longevity than previous generations. The Expert Group advising the United Nations has affirmed that it should continue to be the responsibility of governments to design policies and programs to provide care for dependent older persons and to support those who provide such care. The Australian government, however, has shown itself reluctant to shoulder this responsibility. 1999 is the International Year of Older Persons. This year is subtitled Towards a society for all ages. This means that care giving is to be structured as a multi-generational enterprise which recognises the assistance that children, youth, adults and older persons all need and can give each other in the creation and maintenance of a caring society. Furthermore, a society for all ages must be inclusive so that all have equal rights throughout their lives in employment, education, health care, sexuality, consultation and decision making, housing and treatment in the media. What do older women want? We want opportunities to continue developing our existing skills and well-being. We want to feel empowered to embrace a healthy ageing experience created by and for ourselves. And we want younger feminists to work with us to achieve a society for all ages.
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Often said but is it true?
Margaret Sargent activist
and cybergrrrl! A feminist, sociologist and writer,
Margaret now practises the social action she used to
teach her students. For drug users, people with
disabilities and now for older women, she writes and
talks, working to influence government policy on women
and environment. Margaret is a member of the Council on
Violence Against Women and the Older Women's Network. She is also active on
electronic networks, her favourite being ausfem-polnet and is learning to
write music using a MIDI keyboard with the computer.