Aging identity: Do theories match experiences?

Abstract

Dominant aging identity theories (“mask of ageing”, “social mask”, M. Foucault’s “disembodiment thesis”, gerotranscendental theory) as well as the concept of the postmodern reflexive self of A. Giddens cannot be used to effectively explain old age identity in contemporary Lithuania. More suitable for this purpose is E. Goffman’s concept of stigma that explains denial, evasion and marginalization of old age. These are the conclusions of a qualitative piece of research – involving in-depth interviews with elderly people – that was designed to examine the ways in which old age identity is created and aging is experienced by older people, as well as to ascertain whether the elderly experience stigmatization in everyday interactions. The data were collected from October 2010 – January 2011 in Vilnius (N=24): the selection of informants was targeted by gender, age group (60–74 and 75–89), level of education (primary, secondary, higher), and household type (households of several generations, single-generation and institutional households). To interpret the data, the method of abduction or inference to the best explanation (Harman, 1965) was used.