Frances Zainoeddin, SI UN Representative in New York asks:

• At what age is a woman no longer economically viable?
• At what age is a woman considered of no consequence and of no value?
• At what age should a woman not receive education and training?
• At what age should a woman be considered less deserving of social protection, adequate housing, health care services, palliative care?
• At what age should a woman be without preventive health care, be left under-nourished?
• At what age should a woman be ignored, abandoned or ostracised?
• At what age should a woman lose her autonomy, self-determination and choice in all aspects of her life?
• At what age does a woman lose her rights?

I am asking these questions in the context of efforts being made at the United Nations, led by a number of countries in Latin America, to seek agreement on the elaboration of a convention to protect the rights of all older persons  https://social.un.org/ageing-working-group/   Let us not forget that women constitute the majority of older persons.  Ageing has a female face.  So does poverty.  The accumulated years of discrimination in terms of little education, lack of employment, unpaid care work, (resulting in little, if any, savings, no social protection nor pensions), suffering from elder abuse (physical, mental, emotional, financial), loss of property rights (especially after widowhood) all contribute to the neglect of many women when they reach beyond their reproductive years.   In a number of countries, there are villages where women over the age of 60 are considered witches, and often blamed for bad harvests, sudden illnesses, heavy rains and conflicts.

 

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the plight of older women – are they disposable when they reach a certain age?  60? 65? 70? 80? 90?

 

When we Soroptimists go about our work to empower women and girls, do we pay attention to older women?  What are we doing to ensure that all women and girls of all ages lead a life of dignity?  Are we ensuring that older women are included on the road to equality?  What can we do to go on this journey together?

When we advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights, we should include older women in terms of  reproductive biology and gynecological issues throughout the life-course – older women suffer from breast cancer, cervical cancer, hysterectomies, fistula.  Sexual activity does not automatically stop at age 60.  Sexual and reproductive health and rights should include older women too.  Bring them along the journey to equality.

When we advocate for educating girls, we should include older women who may have missed out on an education when they were young.  Some older women have never learned to read or write, so include them by taking a life-course approach to training and upgrading skills, to ensure their autonomy and independence in older age, and their grandchildren also benefit.  Bring them along the journey to equality.

When we advocate for equal employment opportunities for women, what age group are we concerned about?  At what age should a woman be told she is no longer needed in her job – is it because of her age?

We must fight ageism and bring older women along the road to equality.

 

 

 

 

11 August 2020