A Qualitative Study exploring the Barriers and Facilitators to Older Women’s Workplace Wellbeing in the UK

Edge, Clare

Abstract

Theory/Research Question: Recent evidence suggests life stress accumulation over the life course disproportionately negatively impacts wellbeing, cognition and health in older women (Gómez-Gallego & Gómez-García, 2019; Miller et al., 2021). Older women across Europe have been shown to have more diverse and less regular employment histories than men (Wahrendorf, 2014), and have been shown to face significant challenges as older women in navigating their work life balance (Schillling, 2015). Furthermore, in the UK women’s pension age has recently been harmonised, older women are more likely to extend their working life and are disproportionately affected by inequalities across the life course (Finch, 2014).
The primary question is:
• What are the barriers and facilitators to older women’s workplace wellbeing?
Other secondary questions include:
• What are women’s experiences in respect of the stereotypes that exist regarding older women in work?
• What are women’s self-perceptions as an older woman in the workplace?
Method/Results. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the experiences and perceptions of older women's wellbeing in an opportunity sample of (n=19) older women aged 60 and over with a focus on those in lower paid and part time roles. Participants and data collection:
 The interview questions explored older women's current workplace and role, perceptions of being a woman and an older woman in the workplace, experiences of the barriers and facilitators to wellbeing at work and any experiences of stereotypes, prejudice and stigma associated with being an older woman in the workplace.
 The reason women over 60 years old has been chosen is because this age group will be approaching/have reached or exceeded statutory pension age.
 This study used an opportunity sample recruiting from the University and other organisations locally where older women in lower paid part time roles may be found e.g. ‘5 Cs’: catering, cleaning, caring, clerical and cashiering.
Data Analysis: Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.
Preliminary findings: The findings of a qualitative research project (n=19 older women) will be presented. Themes include: the need to recognise women’s health and well-being across the life-course e.g. the Menopause and older women’s health needs. Across the dataset there was a perception that the menopause and older women’s health issues e.g. musculoskeletal issues was under recognised in the workplace. Self and identity as an older women- positive and negative drivers in the workplace. Women identified a range of positive and negative drivers to positive identity in work as an older women including social support, positive social norms around ageing as a woman, flexibility and autonomy, and a lack of focus on ‘retirement age’.

Citation

Edge, C. (2024, June). A Qualitative Study exploring the Barriers and Facilitators to Older Women’s Workplace Wellbeing in the UK. Presented at Gender Diversity Across Europe – Devising Solutions from Interdisciplinary & Intersectoral Perspectives, Bern, Switzerland

• Presentation Conference Type: Speech
• Conference Name: Gender Diversity Across Europe – Devising Solutions from Interdisciplinary & Intersectoral Perspectives
• Conference Location: Bern, Switzerland
• Start Date: Jun 12, 2024
• End Date: Jun 14, 2024
• Deposit Date: Jul 2, 2024
• Publisher URL: https://gversity-2020.eu/final-conference.html