Abstract

FERNANDES, Maria das Graças Melo  and  GARCIA, Loreley Gomes. The aged body: perception and experience of elderly women. Interface (Botucatu) [online]. 2010, vol.14, n.35, pp. 879-890.  Epub Aug 27, 2010. ISSN 1414-3283.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1414-32832010005000024.

This qualitative study aimed to analyze aged women's perception and experience concerning their bodies, considering the gender perspective. It was carried out in the elderly group Juventude Acumulada, located in the popular neighborhood Cruz das Armas, in the city of João Pessoa, northeastern Brazil. The empirical material was collected through individual semi-structured interviews and reflection workshops, involving eighteen senior women, and was examined by means of discourse analysis. The results show that some senior women see their bodies as fragile, modified, sick and ugly bodies; bodies that bring them negative experiences. On the other hand, others demonstrate satisfaction with their corporal dimension, noticing it as still beautiful and conserved. As for the determinants of their physical aging, the women mentioned maternity, overload of domestic work and domestic violence.

Keywords : Aging; Old age; Gender; Body.