What is the relationship between remote rural island place and perspectives on ageing of mid-life women?
Date
2023Author
Herbert, Alison
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Herbert, Alison. (2023). What is the relationship between remote rural island place and perspectives on ageing of mid-life women? Sociální studia / Social Studies, 20(2), 151-170. doi: 10.5817/SOC2023-37717
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Abstract
This article makes an original contribution to social gerontology and nissology by
addressing a knowledge gap on contemporary gendered ageing in remote, rural island places. Drawing
on empirical data gathered through in-depth interviews with 12 mid-life (48–69 years old) women
living in the Uist islands of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland, the relationship between ageing and remote
rural island place is examined. Reflecting the participant narrative, this study discusses personal
and place identities, while exploring place attachment and its relationship with gendered island ageing.
This qualitative work adopts a lifecourse framework in order to acknowledge lived experience
and cultural context from childhood to adulthood. Data were gathered and analysed through the prism
of constructivist grounded theory, a methodology well placed for exploratory research of topics about
which relatively little is known. Rich participant insight and analysis eschew island mono-culturalism,
instead extending the discourse around remote rural island ageing as distinct from mainland rural
ageing. Empirical data informs substantive theory, and fresh considerations on gendered mid-life ageing
and remote island place are offered for academia. Findings from this study indicate diverse relationships
between ageing and place amongst mid-life women living in the Outer Hebridean regions of North Uist,
South Uist, Benbecula and Berneray. The connection between ageing and island place is experienced
through place attachment, and is influenced by a range of geographic, demographic and socio-economic
factors: primarily of relevance to this study is that of the natural environment. Perspectives on ageing
reflect lived lifecourse experience and vary between those native and non-native to the Outer Hebrides;
those who live with a partner or alone; those who have children and those child-free; and between those
who enjoy socio-economic stability and those who do not.