Aging creatively as a woman: a salutogenic reading in a vulnerability context
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/gb.v1i1.0005Keywords:
Healthy Aging; Sense of Coherence; Social Vulnerability; Gender Perspective; Violence Against Women.Abstract
Introduction: The world population is aging, and most long-living people will live in developing countries. A perspective that considers aging in socially vulnerable contexts, which goes beyond a biological perspective, is needed. The salutogenic theory focused on the sense of coherence offers some insights into how long-living people use generalized resistance resources (GRR) and face stressors during their lives. Objective: The study aims to analyze stressors and the GRR present in the creative aging of a long-living woman in a socially vulnerable context. Methods: Qualitative research was conducted using the life story method. An older woman living in Manaus (Amazonas, Brazil) participated in the study. An open, non-structured interview with an invisible script was conducted focusing on stressors, GRR, body practices, and physical activities during her life. Results: Challenges and facing strategies were highlighted into two category groups: 1) Stressors: precarious life conditions; violence suffered during childhood and youth; oppressions due to gender; work impacts; several risks during life; unexpected events. 2) GRR: plays from childhood to adulthood; social support systems; personal capabilities; reflections about life and longevity. Conclusion: Stressors and GRR are present in creative aging complexly connected to the participant’s life conditions. Data indicate that being a woman is a significant stressor. Public policies are needed to combat sexism and patriarchy established in society. Summing up, there is a need to potentialize the GRR to change sociocultural structures so that women in socially vulnerable contexts can access better life conditions and social support.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Victor José Machado de Oliveira, Cícera Gisela Queiroz de Souza, Ana Beatriz de Oliveira Ferreira, Rafaella de Seixas Seixas, Inês Lemos Pereira, Inês Amanda Streit (Autor)
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