Proceedings of The 6th Global Conference on Women’s Studies
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Women’s Midlife as Gendered Development: The Lived Experiences of Selected Filipino Women in Midlife
Amapola Baes
ABSTRACT:
This study is a portrayal of what characterizes women’s midlife experience, while cognizant of its gendered nature. To address theoretical gaps in understanding women in midlife development, this study is premised on Postmodern Constructionism, thereby attempting to depart from the dominant male-centric theorizing and bring out a ground-level understanding of how women in midlife experience this particular stage from their multiple roles and emergent self-identities at this juncture. Focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted among three groups of women between the age range of 42-65, and five (5) women from these groups were selected for indepth interview using the narrative identity approach. This study examined how women’s midlife is characterized through the two role categories of women, which are (a) work roles and (b) affiliative roles. Major themes that emerged from the women respondents in work roles include (a) peak of career status characterized by mastery, competence, and confidence, (b) head/leader position, (c) skillful functioning in multiple roles within the work role, (d) pride and fulfillment in work, and (e) crisis in career leading to stock-taking and/or change. For the non-employed women, the themes culled were (a) being relieved from a domestic role, (b) extending functions beyond the domestic, and (c) catching up on what was missed. Other themes were found to emerge from the intersection of both work roles and affiliative roles, which include (a) how the mothering role continues in varied forms and (b) changes and shifts. The identities of women respondents were summarily described by the themes (a) self-expansion in multiplicity and complexity, and (b) changes and transition. Implications for developmental theorizing and limitations of the study are discussed.
keywords: Women’s midlife, gendered development