Ageing women make up a significant proportion of the world's population and their numbers are growing. Poverty is inherently gendered in old age when older women are more likely to be widowed, living alone, with no income, with fewer assets of their own, fully dependent on the family for support and living in old age home. The present study attempts to offer some empirical evidence for understanding and explaining at the marginalization of elderly women. Data for this research work was collected from four old age homes in Chennai city. 60 years and above elderly women were interviewed. Male inmates, bedridden and mentally retarded were excluded from the study. Interview Schedule was used to collect data from female inmates. Low level of awareness and utilization of welfare schemes and programs and low-level social connections and networks, other socio-economic backwardness are the major causes of marginalization of elderly women. Results revealed that majority of female inmates were in the age group of 70 to 79 years (53%), widows (55.7%), illiterates (39.5%), unemployed (65.9%), not having any source of income (50.3%), staying with 6 to 10 roommates (44.3%) and staying above five years (53%) in the old age home. Some major factors influencing marginalization of elderly women are a) Socio-economic backwardness in education and occupation, b) lack of social support among relatives and c) Economic dependency of elderly women. It was analysed that only 0.5% of inmates were satisfied by the availability of money and only 16.2% of inmates were satisfied with the support given by their family members. 49.8% of inmates dissatisfied with health care services provided by the institution and 53.5% of inmates dissatisfied with the condition of their living place due to lack of privacy, narrowed dormitory system, etc.
Marginalization, Elderly women, Institutionalization, Social support, Economic dependency, Old age home
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