Othering the elderly: Autoethnography as counteractive methodological strategy

Franklin, Alex

Abstract

This paper will first establish that 'the elderly' are habitually othered in the texts that endeavour to describe 'them' and their 'needs'. It will then argue that an intersectional conceptualising of identity construction aids a researcher who is endeavouring to overcome this artificial distanciation, enabling them to employ an analytic autoethnographic methodology even when they are not a full member of the age group being studied. The overt use of an autoethnographic approach both during data collection and in materials for publication helps to render visible ageing as a continuum; the institutionalised partitioning of which is arguably disadvantageous for those obliged to embody the related cultural practices.
This discussion will be illustrated using the experiences of the author who, among other things, is a woman in her 40s and who is currently researching the role that clothing consumption and dress practices play in the dis/articulation of older women's (65+) ever-evolving identities in the UK.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Aging and Society, International Interdisciplinary Conference
• Start Date: Oct 26, 2017
• End Date: Oct 27, 2017
• Acceptance Date: Sep 28, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: autoethnography, othering, ethics, 'the elderly', dress
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/880521
• Related Public URLs: http://agingsociety.ug.edu.pl/
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Aging and Society