Gender Equality and Quality of Life in Older Age

Gender equality (GE) and quality of life (QoL) are rarely studied together. GE is usually studied with respect to people in reproductive age and the number of studies aiming at investigation of the impact that GE could have on QoL of older people is scarce. QoL as determined by ageing process is widely discussed in the literature. Positive ageing is defined as an ability to maintain social relationships, cognitive efficacy, social competence, personal control, etc. Among the dimensions of QoL most frequently mentioned by older people themselves there are social contacts within and outside the family, happiness, etc. It should be investigated if GE can be seen as potentially contributing to the higher QoL of older people and if older age is a period in life when individuals may strive for achieving greater GE in order to lead more satisfactory and healthy lives.

Within this context our study ‘Gender equality and quality of life-how gender equality can contribute to development in Europe. A study of Poland and Norway’ focuses on GE and QoL hypothesizing that GE is a major factor for improving both men and women’s QoL.

In order to explore GE and its impact on QoL in older age we have conducted FGIs with older participants, asking them about their own experience with gender in/equality, costs and benefits of in/equality, areas of in/equality, QoL, social policies and their results on the lives of men and women, etc. The aim of the presentation is to discuss selected results of FGIs.