She’s fast for her age! Older women and running culture

1969 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Bridget J. McGowan ◽  
Dr. Andre Smith

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, running was the exclusionary sport of younger men. Women, particularly older women, were discouraged from participating in competitive running up until the 1970s. In seeking to understand the reasons for this interdiction, this study employs Foucault’s concept of discourse to explore the ways in which medicalized notions about the female body have mitigated women’s involvement in running from the early 1900s until present day. The paper begins with a targeted literature review that identifies relevant biomedical and moral discourses. Findings are then presented from in-depth interviews with four elite women runners over the age of fifty. The analysis of these participants’ accounts of their running histories reveal that while women runners have gained new freedoms, a discriminatory discourse remains, one that sexualizes and commodifies the female athletic body.

2009 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 709-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURA HURD CLARKE ◽  
MERIDITH GRIFFIN ◽  
KATHERINE MALIHA

ABSTRACTThis paper examines older women's experiences and perceptions of clothing prescriptions for adults in later life. Using data from in-depth interviews with 36 women aged 71 to 93 years, we investigate the stringent, taken-for-granted social norms that older women identified with respect to appropriate fashion for the ageing female body. Specifically, the participants argued that older women should refrain from wearing bright colours and revealing or overly suggestive styles. Expressing a preference for classic or traditional styles, the women also reported that they used clothing strategically to mask or compensate for bodily transgressions that had occurred over time as a result of the physical realities of ageing, including weight gain, altered body shapes, wrinkles and sagging or ‘flabby’ arms and necks, referred to respectively as ‘bat wings’ and ‘turkey wattles’. In addition, the women contended that they consciously chose their clothing styles to compensate for age-related health issues and/or to present a competent, healthy self to others. Finally, the women talked about the ways in which their clothing choices were influenced by their changing lifestyles and constrained by a lack of desirable and affordable clothing options for the older female body. The findings are discussed in the light of Erving Goffman's concept of stigma and contemporary theorising about ageing, ageism, beauty work and the body.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 330-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan A Tuddenham ◽  
Kathleen R Page ◽  
Patrick Chaulk ◽  
Erika B Lobe ◽  
Khalil G Ghanem

Many individuals remain sexually active into their eighth decade. Surveillance data suggest that rates of sexually transmitted infections in older patients are increasing. We compared demographics, risk behaviors, and predictors of acute infections in patients 50 years and older versus younger patients attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Baltimore, Maryland. This was a retrospective study from a large electronic database of visits to two urban sexually transmitted disease clinics between 2005 and 2010. Proportions were compared using the Chi square test. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of acute sexually transmitted infections in older versus younger groups. It was found that patients over 50 were more likely than younger patients to report never using condoms (32.6% [CI 0.31–0.34] versus 24.1% [CI 0.23–0.25]). The overall prevalence of acute sexually transmitted infections was 18.1% (CI 0.17–0.19) in older and 25.8% (CI 0.25–0.27) in younger patients. Older women were more likely to be diagnosed with trichomoniasis (21.5% [CI 18.6–24.5] versus 13.1% [CI 11.5–14.8]). Black race was predictive of having an acute sexually transmitted infections in younger men (OR 2.2 [CI 1.47–3.35]) and women (OR 2.7 [CI 1.34–5.30]) but not in older men (OR 1.2 [CI 0.79–1.73]) or women (OR 1.2 [CI 0.43–3.15]). Older age was associated with a decreased risk of acute STI diagnosis in younger men and older women only, while having had sex for money or drugs in the past month was predictive only in younger women. Reporting symptoms and increasing numbers of sexual partners in the last six months was predictive of acute sexually transmitted infection diagnosis in all age groups. Older patients seeking care at sexually transmitted disease clinics engage in important risk behaviors. Race, a factor predictive of acute sexually transmitted infections in younger patients is not a significant predictor of sexually transmitted infections in older persons.


1998 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
MELISSA PARKER ◽  
HELEN WARD ◽  
SOPHIE DAY

This paper discusses ways in which empirical research investigating sexual networks can further understanding of the transmission of HIV in London, using information from a 24-month period of participant observation and 53 open-ended, in-depth interviews with eighteen men and one woman who have direct and indirect sexual links with each other. These interviews enabled the identification of a wider sexual network between 154 participants and contacts during the year August 1994-July 1995. The linked network data help to identify pathways of transmission between individuals who are HIV+ and those who are HIV−, as well as sexual links between ‘older’ and ‘younger’ men, and with male prostitutes. There appears to be considerable on-going transmission of HIV in London. The majority of participants reported having had unprotected anal and/or vaginal sex within a variety of relationships. The implications of these findings for policies designed to prevent the transmission of HIV are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Trinovianto George Reinhard Hallatu ◽  
Darsono Wisadirana ◽  
Sholih Mu'adi ◽  
Anif Fatma Chawa

The sar culture is the pre-existing culture of the Kanum tribe whose implementation is aimed to maintain and preserve nature. Sar culture not only has a positive influence on the environment, but it also represents symbolic violence against women and the Kanum people. This research is aimed to describe sar culture based on the theory of habitus and symbolic violence by Bourdieu. This research involved a qualitative descriptive method, in which the data was obtained from in-depth interviews with Kanum tribal head, Kanum tribe elders, and some village residents involved in sar, observation in Naukenjerai district, and supported by literature review. All collected data were then analyzed descriptively according to the concepts of habitus and symbolic violence by Bourdieu. The research results show that sar culture is a habitus resulting from an interaction between human beings and their nature that has existed for long before. Besides that, there is symbolic violence to the Kanum women and also to the Kaum people, which done by the Kanum men and the leaders of the Kanum tribe as the dominant actors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-225
Author(s):  
Min Ryu ◽  
Haeyun Shin ◽  
Miseon Bang ◽  
Suhye Kwon

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand and describe the experiences of urinary incontinence in older women in urban areas.Methods: Data were collected through individual in-depth interviews of 8 older women with urinary incontinence in urban areas from September 2020 to March 2021. The transcribed data were analyzed using Colaizzi's phenomenological six-step method.Results: Four theme clusters emerged: Urinary incontinence as an uninvited visitor in old age; The heavy daily pain urinary incontinence causes; Self-help efforts to cope with urinary incontinence; and A mind to hold on to the present condition so as not to deteriorate.Conclusion: This study provided an in-depth understanding of older women’s experiences with urinary incontinence in urban areas. Based on the results of this study, efforts should be made to develop and provide emotional and psychological support and prevention education programs that can adequately support older women with urinary incontinence in urban areas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Dorobantu ◽  
Oana-Florentina Gheorghe-Fronea ◽  
Alexandru Scafa-Udriste ◽  
Sebastian Onciul ◽  
Calin Pop ◽  
...  

: The gender effects in arterial hypertension (HT) epidemiology remains poorly clarified to date. We present an up-to-date review of the data regarding gender disparities in HT’s prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control. Based on the data from three consecutive national-representative SEPHAR (Study for the Evaluation of Prevalence of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk in Romania) surveys conducted between 2005 and 2016, we provide insights into gender differences in HT’s epidemiology and their 11- years evolutionary trend in a high-CV risk European country. Our data displays gender effects in different age-dependent epidemiological patterns in terms of hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control, mainly due to hormonal status. Hypertension’s prevalence is higher in younger men and older women. Although women are more often aware of their hypertensive condition and receive more often antihypertensive treatment, BP control is lower in older women compared to men of the same age, mainly due to a higher treatment side-effect rate. There is no solid evidence that different antihypertensive drugs exhibit different effects in lowering BP values between genders. In high CV risk European countries like Romania, if all the influencing conditions remain similar to those in the past 11 years, gender discrepancies in terms of HT's prevalence will diminish over time, awareness and treatment of hypertension will continue to be higher in females than in men, with an upward trend of BP control predicted only for women, while in men HT treatment control rate is expected to stagnate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Osikominu ◽  
Nancy Bocken

Adopting a voluntary simplicity lifestyle (VSL) contributes to a change in consumption patterns towards more sustainable ones, which is urgently needed. This study defines the VSL as a voluntary reduction of income and consumption in exchange for more free time. Our research aims to contribute with more detailed VSL criteria. A literature review develops initial VSL criteria, which are validated against and enriched by data gathered through in-depth interviews with nine voluntary simplicity practitioners. This study contributes with: (1) more detailed insights into the value changes during lifestyle adoption of a VSL, (2) a detailed perspective on significant aspects in VSL adoption as well as how they tend to happen in sequence, and (3) insight into how consumption reduces or changes and how free time is spent when adopting a VSL. A conceptual framework for more detailed VSL criteria, as proposed in this study, is valuable to characterise the VSL lifestyle and differentiate it from other lifestyles. In sum, the study contributes to clearer perspectives on the VSL and provides detailed VSL criteria. Finally, we reaffirm the potential of VSL to contribute toward changing dominant unsustainable consumption patterns and indicate directions for future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 252-282
Author(s):  
Rachana Bhangaokar ◽  
Shagufa Kapadia

The article highlights gender-specific elements in the notions of duty ( kartavya) in the Indian familial context. Using a hypothetical dilemma about gender roles and employment, in depth interviews were conducted with 120 respondents comprising young adults and their parents from the Maharashtrian community of Vadodara city, Gujarat, India. A majority of respondents, men as well as women, could recognize the unfairness (towards women) in the scenario but did not accord it enough importance because doing so could result in negative consequences (like family disharmony or social isolation) for the self as well as the family. Classifying the justifications under the Big Three Ethics of Autonomy, Community and Divinity (Jensen, 1996, Coding manual: Ethics of autonomy, community and divinity, Unpublished Manuscript) showed maximum use of the ethic of community, closely followed by autonomy. There was negligible use of the ethic of divinity. Indicating cultural continuity amidst social change, younger respondents and older women showed flexible mentalities about gender roles and corresponding responsibilities as compared to those of older men. At the interface of gender and culture, the article highlights complexities, which shape ideas of autonomy and fairness in the Indian context.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Axel Wolz ◽  
Judith Möllers ◽  
Marius Mihai Micu

Almost three decades since the collapse of the socialist regime, Romania’s farm structure is characterized by a distinct dual pattern. The far majority of farms is relatively small, while a small number manages about half of the total utilized agricultural area. Most farmers face significant constraints in creating viable farm businesses. When this is the case, it can be assumed that farmers will unite and establish agricultural service cooperatives (ASCs), as has been observed in many other parts of the world. In Romania, however, as in many other postsocialist economies, farmers tend to be reluctant to form or join formal organizations of mutual assistance. Yet there are signs of change, as first ASCs have recently been established. The objectives of this contribution are twofold: First, we discuss the major obstacles why ASCs did not develop after regime change. Second, we analyze the major reasons and influencing factors why private family farmers become more open to this type of formal organization in recent years. The analysis is based on a literature review, farm statistics, and qualitative in-depth interviews with farmers in 2018.


1987 ◽  
Vol 33 (12) ◽  
pp. 2289-2291 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Knight ◽  
S E Smith ◽  
V E Kinder ◽  
H B Anstall

Abstract We measured lipoperoxides, as malondialdehyde (MDA), by liquid chromatography in plasma from 230 male and 148 female adult blood donors, to establish reliable reference values and to compare possible sex-, age-, and specimen-related differences. Our studies show that mean have higher MDA concentrations in plasma than do women (P less than 0.05), older men have higher values than younger men (P less than 0.05), and older women have higher values than young women (P less than 0.001). These age-related results support earlier studies in experimental animals that lipid peroxidation increases with increasing age. In addition, plasma from liquid EDTA-anti-coagulated blood has significantly lower MDA concentrations than does serum or plasma from blood treated with lithium heparin, sodium citrate, or CPDA-1 (P less than 0.001).


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