‘Women are just more active’ – gender as a determining factor in involvement in senior centres

Abstract

Centres for seniors offering leisure-time activities currently represent significant actors that translate the idea of active ageing into a particular approach to seniors. Despite the fact that active ageing is now represented by the state and providers of social services as the universally desirable way of ageing, the significantly smaller numbers of male clients was identified as a marked feature of such organisations. A three-year ethnographic study was conducted at two centres in the Czech Republic which offer seniors-only leisure-time activities strongly grounded in the idea of active ageing. The method of participant observation was used, and 47 in-depth interviews were conducted with the centres' clients and employees. The higher participation by women in the centres and the role they attribute to such organisations in their lives is analysed in the context of their previous gendered biographies. Gender patterns embedded in the way daily activities at the senior centres are organised, as well as in the idea of active ageing itself, are highlighted. Despite the seeming invisibility of gender as a principle that structures the way these centres are run, they are in fact gendered organisations, where gender emerges as a basic principle affecting the chances of participating in active ageing as presented by the centres.

Physical activity benefits of attending a senior center depend largely on age and gender: a study using GPS and accelerometry data

“…In recent years, with the rise in popularity of concepts such as active aging and aging in place, the role of senior centers as providers and promoters of physical activity has gained relevance. In the context of walkable and accessible urban environments [10,11], senior centers can act as mediators of active and successful aging [12]. However, there is an important lack of research devoted to measuring and objectively assessing the physical activity that seniors gain from their visits to senior centers.…”

Perceptions of Leisure by Older Adults Who Attend Senior Centers

“…Though centers vary, many factors contributing to successful aging, such as recreation activities, are found there (Beisgen & Kraitchman, 2003). A few ethnographic studies of older adults using senior centers have been conducted resulting in (a) questioning whether centers actually develop a sense of community (Rosenberg, 2013), (b) explaining that high participation rates of women occur because centers are gendered organizations (Marhankova, 2013), and (c) identifying a shared norm that seeking support is disgraceful (Yoo, 2013). Although these studies provide insights, authors concur that additional research is needed.…”

Application of the behaviour change wheel framework to the development of interventions within the City4Age project

“…Social/Professional Role and Identity Perception that activities are for much older people [33], not selfidentifying as "old" [40] Modelling Perception that activities/senior centres are gendered [47] Modelling Beliefs about capabilities Self-perceived health [48] Education Beliefs about consequences Perception that engagement and socialising will be beneficial/desirable [33,41,43] Persuasion Fear of social rejection [40] Education Desire to benefit from socialising [43] Persuasion Motivation, Automatic…”