“Good health that’s all I’m asking for” Older women’s perceptions and experiences of health and well being across ethnic diversity Dr Sharon Wray Reader in Sociology

The Conference Agenda Taking Transculturalism and Diversity Beyond Boundaries: Exploring the experiences of under-represented Groups

Presentation Focus and Aims Focus The meanings older women from diverse ethnic backgrounds attach to health and well being. Aims To contest uncritical Western and medicalised notions of health that are often applied to older women. To highlight the creative individual and collective capacity of older women to challenge negative stereotypes that associate ageing with poor health and disengagement from society.

To Begin…Some Western Medical Assumptions 1. ‘Health’ and ‘healthy lifestyle’ = the absence of disease (Rose 1999; Furedi 2004) 2. Ageing = physical and mental decline 3. But…ageing is a preventable ‘disease’ due to medical intervention 4. Good health can be achieved through self- surveillance and self-education 5. Health promotion is a means to achieve this.

The Abstraction of ‘Health’ and ‘Well-Being’ from Social and Cultural Context Western medicalization of ageing and health has shaped societal and individual expectations of health and physical capability in later life (Vincent 2003; Maynard et al. 2008) Social and ethno-cultural aspects of health and ageing are absent or made invisible - mechanistic approach to the body The increasing western medicalization of everyday life has influenced what is constructed as illness (Furedi 2004).

My Research: Some Key findings 1. Significance of ‘health’ - good health regarded as central to quality of life for older people. 2. When faced with illnesses like arthritis, high blood pressure etc. women were still able to ‘get on with their lives’ (Maynard, Afshar, Franks, Wray, 2008). 3. Previous life events impact health and well being in later life (Maynard, Afshar, Franks, Wray, 2008; Wray 2012). 4. Religious beliefs influence health and well being (Bartholomew 2011).

Perceptions of ‘Health’ are Diverse Good health is when you’re happy, physically and mentally healthy (Indian woman, aged 62). Generally I have enjoyed good health, For the past six years, I have had knee problems which causes discomfort when walking. Good health is having mind, soul and physical free from foreign diseases. (Indian woman, aged 62).

Not Giving In and Keeping Going… In general it (body) is slowing down and um you know there are things you could do and you can’t always do it. You can do it but you do it a slower pace. It’s got its set- backs but it’s not being ill (West Indian woman, age 64). I can’t run that’s one thing I can’t do since I broke me knee. I can’t run but I can dance…if there’s dancing I mean I’m up dancing all day you know (British/Irish woman aged, 66).

Connecting Past and Current Health and Well-Being (…) when I was young I had too many responsibilities to feel young. I cared for my brothers and sisters and now my own children…I am not in good health. I have been mentally ill for some time. Feeling tired and depressed (Bangladeshi woman, aged 61). After having nine children my health is very poor (Pakistani woman, aged 59).

Connecting Past and Current Health and Well-Being I have not been able to socialise with people in England. They live different lives than Bangladeshi. I cannot read or write. I had good health all my life but I feel depressed. I was told by the doctor I need to go out and socialise more. I am in the house 90% of the time (Bangladeshi woman, aged 61).

Religious Beliefs and Health and Well-Being She’s saying she finds peace of mind and if she is feeling ill praying helps to calm her (Interpreter) We pray five times a day and then we feel that God is helping us (B)

Religious Beliefs and Health and Well-Being Did it (religion) help when you lost your partner? (Interviewer) Yes, yes, yes. Well I was lonely in this kind of way and so I had the people in the church to get myself back on my feet. Yes (Isadora)

Summary Western medicalised accounts often fail to capture diverse experiences of health. There is a negative view prevalent amongst medical professionals that aging involves a steady and largely inevitable deterioration in physical and mental capabilities. Examining the interplay between ethnic and cultural diversity and life course inequalities is essential if we are to move beyond simplistic biological reductionist models, that further exacerbate existing inequalities in health.

References Bartholomew, M. (2012) Health Experiences of Older African Caribbean Women Living in the UK. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, UK. Furedi, F. (2004) Therapy Culture: Cultivating Uncertainty in an Uncertain Age. London: Routledge. Maynard, M., Afshar, H., Franks, M., Wray, S. (2008) Women in Later Life: Exploring Race and Ethnicity. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

References Rose, N. (1999) Powers of Freedom: Reframing Political Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Vincent, J. (2003) Old Age. London: Routledge. Wray, S. (2012) “This is your life you have to live with the memories”: Older migrant women’s reflections on living with the past. The International Journal of Aging in Society, 1, 3,