Construction of the third age in Argentine society

1. Construction of the third age in Argentine society NÉLIDA REDONDO ARGENTINA Noviembre de 2006

2. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society Old age or aging are not the cause of social imbalances or problems, but rather, certain structural properties of social systems are able to either hinder or ease the fruitful extension of human life.

3. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society Theoretical background and Western models of ageing

4. Theory of structuration Duration of the everyday experience; “reversible time” Life span of an individual: “irreversible time” Lengthy duration of institutions: “revesible time”

5. New structure in the temporality. Practices of the elderly in intermediate socio-economic developing countries Duration of the everyday experience; “reversible time” Life span of an individual: “irreversible time” Permanence of human existence: “eternal time” Lengthy duration of institutions: “historical time”

6. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society The Argentine Context

8. Argentine Gross Domestic Product, 2nd. Q 2001 to 1st. Q 2002. (in Millions of Pesos current at 1993) Source: INDEC, National Accounts, 2005. Notes: * Quarterly variation = (Q2-Q1)/Q1 ** Cumulative variation (Q2 or Q3 or Q4 – 2nd Q 2001)/2nd. Q 2001.

9. Percentage of people aged 65 and over in households below the Poverty Line (PL). Total urban conglomerates. October 2001 and 2002. Second quarter of 2003 and 2005 Source: Drawn up by the author based on the Permanent Household Survey (EPH). October 2001 and 2002. Second semester of 2003 and 2005.

10. Percentage of people by group of age in households below the Poverty Line (PL). Total urban conglomerates. October 2001 and 2002. Second quarter of 2003 and 2005 Source: Drawn up by the author based on the Permanent Household Survey (EPH). October 2001 and 2002. Second semester of 2003 and 2005.

11. Ex-post selected* coverage rate (for people aged 65 and over) of the Argentine social security system by age groups. Country Total. Urban areas. 1997-2001 Source: Prepared by the author based on information from the Survey of Living Conditions, 2001 (SIEMPRO).

12. Percentage of heads of households that own the place they live on, by age group. Country total. Urban areas. 2001 Source: Drawn up by the author based on the Permanent Household Survey (EPH). October 2001

13. Percentage of population below poverty line by group of age. Country total. Urban areas. 2001. 2002. 2003. 2005 Source: Drawn up by the author based on the Permanent Household Survey (EPH). October 2001 and 2002. 2nd. Semester of 2003 and 2005

14. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society The research project

15. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society Did the demographic aging and extension of the average life span in Argentina modify the personal history of older people in a similar manner to the one recorded in European and North American countries, or is there a prevalence of dependency, poverty and unhappiness described as typical of less developed countries?

16. Number of people interviewed by social-economic strata, sex and major age groups. City of Buenos Aires. 2004

17. Interviewees were selected based on certain variables: • a) major age groups: old age (sixty to seventy-four years of age) and fourth age (ages seventy-five and over) • b) residents of different neighbourhoods • c) different social strata • d) differing drives to take part in social and community activities • e) different levels of access to housing accommodation, including residence at collective institutions.

18. The universe interviewed was classified by socio-economic strata as follows: • a) poor, equivalent to the 1st. income quintile • b) low and low-middle sectors, equivalent to the 2nd. and 3rd. income quintiles • c) middle and high-middle sectors (equivalent to the 4th. and 5th. income quintiles).

19. The questions covered the following topics • Basic social demographic and economic data • Occupational status, past and present. • Type of housing, past and present. • Perception about: • most recent changes in his or her personal biography, • point in time or situation that triggered the changes, • spheres in which the changes took place: a) social relationships, b) work, c) family life, and d) physical conditions. • Semantic definition of the current period in the individual´s biography and semantic definition used to define an elderly person. • Perception of the chronological age at which a person can be considered elderly. • Different perceptions of old age throughout the lifetime of the interviewee: a) in his or her youth, and b) at present. • Makeup of material resources: social security income or income from social welfare services, savings, family transfers or other income. • Restriction or continuity of lifelong comsumption patterns. • Macro-structural facilities and personal choices after ceasing to be economically active. • Reciprocal intergenerational care and attention; relationships in the family sphere and family connections. • Perception about positive and negative aspects of this stage in life.

20. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society • Key findings

21. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society Two-fold structure: practices, institutions and theories • 70 or 75 years old. • leaving a Legacy. • elderly persons (personas mayores) rather than senior citizens.

22. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society First profile: • Most positive aspect:witnessing the growth of successive family generations. • Threatening: a) something bad happening to their loved ones; b) illness, disability or suffering afflicting themselves.

23. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society Second profile: • Most positive aspect:lives the sense of freedom and autonomy, and a greater capacity to reflect due to the degree of maturity reached and the lifelong experience. • Threatening: suffering limitations from illness.

24. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society Third profile: • Most positive aspect: possibility of learning and achieving personal growth, of carrying out voluntary or vocational activities that they were unable to perform in previous stages of their life. • Threatening:comes fromsocial sphere like violence, poverty or insecurity which currently afflict the country; or economic limitations.

25. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society Fourth profile: • Most positive aspect: Nothing or receiving social assistance. • Threatening: The future, the lack of money.

26. Construction of the third age in Argentinean society Third Age • Enjoyment and well being during this stage of life. • Not minimum wealth, but rather continuation (with spontaneous adjustment) of previous lifestyle. • Desire to live on in the memory of those significant to them.

27. New structure in the temporality. Practices of the elderly in intermediate socio-economic developing countries Duration of the everyday experience; “reversible time” Life span of an individual: “irreversible time” Permanence of human existence: “eternal time” Lengthy duration of institutions: “historical time”