Acadian Women's Stories of Resilience
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“I’M TOUGH”: ACADIAN WOMEN’S STORIES OF RESILIENCE AGAINST THE ANTI-AGING MOVEMENT by Nicole S. Taerum Bachelor of Arts, Gerontology, Psychology, St. Thomas University, 2012 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Graduate Academic Unit of Interdisciplinary Studies Supervisor(s): Kathryn Weaver, PhD, Faculty of Nursing Examining Board: William Randall, PhD, Dept. of Gerontology, St. Thomas University Chantal Richard, PhD, Dept. of French This thesis is accepted by the Dean of Graduate Studies THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK April, 2019 ©Nicole S. Taerum, 2019 ABSTRACT The anti-aging culture has initiated a storm of ageism and discrimination targeting older adults in Canada, and this issue needed examination as it affects their well-being. In this thesis, I explored the experiences of older Acadian women affected by the anti-aging culture. Interviews with five older Acadian women from New Brunswick were conducted concerning their experiences and perceptions of their aging process and attitudes on anti- aging products and culture. Data analysis was conducted by developing themes and threads from the interview data into individual core stories that represented each participant's experiences. Once the individual narratives were made and shared with the women, a collective narrative was developed by combining participants' accounts into a core story that depicted how Acadian women's experiences with poverty, discrimination, shame, positive role models, Acadian pride, and family values impacted the aging process. The development of resilience and a positive view of aging led participants to reject the anti- aging movement. ii DEDICATION Dedicated to Leigh. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank Dr. Kate Weaver, Dr. Bill Randall, and every individual involved with this project, especially those who participated in the research and allowed me to share their stories. iv Table of Contents ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION..................................................................................................................iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................iv Table of Contents...............................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................vii Outline of Thesis……………………………………………………………………….viii Chapter 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................1 Chapter 2. Review of Literature.......................................................................................9 Chapter 3. Methodology and Method .............................................................................30 Chapter 4. Working the Method .....................................................................................52 Chapter 5. Research Findings .........................................................................................59 Chapter 6: Discussion .....................................................................................................73 References.......................................................................................................................79 Appendix A: Information Letter .....................................................................................97 Appendix B: Poster.........................................................................................................102 Appendix C: Informed Consent Form.............................................................................104 Appendix D: Interview Guide.........................................................................................109 Appendix E: Demographic Form....................................................................................110 Appendix F: List of Resources........................................................................................112 v Appendix G: Kijiji Advertisement..................................................................................113 Appendix H: Invitational Letter......................................................................................113 Appendix I: Readability Statistics...................................................................................118 Appendix J: Glossary......................................................................................................121 Appendix K: Core Story.................................................................................................12 Curriculum Vitae vi List of Figures Figure 1. Tree Metaphor Picture........................................................................................61 vii OUTLINE OF THESIS Chapter 1 includes an introduction to the phenomenon of interest. This includes the rationale for the study and the use of qualitative methods. Chapter 2 contains a comprehensive review of the relevant literature. In Chapter 3, I discuss the research method chosen and how the data were treated and analyzed. This third chapter includes the research question, sample selection, method of data collection, description of data analysis, and ethical considerations. Verification methods are also discussed. I discuss my role as researcher and my relevant educational background. In Chapter 4, I discuss my personal reflection on the process and my learning experiences throughout this project. Chapter 5 contains the results of the study, based on the unique and common themes and perspectives described by the participants in their narratives. Chapter 6 includes suggestions for future research and implications for further study. viii Chapter 1. Introduction In Westernized cultures, human aging is analogous to a disease that one needs to alleviate (Holstein, 2001). The anti-aging movement gained most of its momentum in the 1990s and is now prevalent within many societies (Calasanti, 2005; Morrow, Hankivsky, & Varcoe, 2007). Individuals who can reach old age face cultural and social devaluation and discrimination due to age (Calasanti, 2005). Research indicates that the aging process is appraised differently if one is female, and that experiences of age discrimination occur more often in females (Calasanti, 2005; Morrow, Hankivsky, & Varcoe, 2007; Sargeant, 2011). Beauty, youthfulness, and flawlessness are accorded high importance. An overarching obsession with women’s bodies, especially in advertising, suggests that North American women are more susceptible to the pressure of attaining and maintaining perceived beauty in old age (Black, 2004; Clarke, Repta, & Griffin, 2007). Women are the main advertising targets when it comes to selling anti-aging products and procedures (Bayer, 2005; Clarke et al., 2007; Gillick, 2006). Pervasive marketing and advertising practices have contributed to the rise in body image issues in older women (Bayer, 2005). Popular media, the beauty industry, and many medical professionals continually send conflicting messages to consumers (Gillick, 2006). One of these messages is that a youthful outer appearance equals good health (Gillick, 2006). This culture of anti-aging, while disparaging of older individuals, is often misrepresented as a healthy lifestyle choice in popular magazines, books, film, and television programs (Gillick, 2006). In fact, anti-aging products and diets are not always proven to work; and yet, the message that they are “healthy” is heavily marketed to most 1 age groups including middle-aged and older individuals (Gillick, 2006). In the media, anti-aging is often rephrased in friendlier terms such as “age denying,” "age-defying," and “active aging” to hide the damaging reality and become more acceptable to the public (Gillick, 2006). To make matters worse, some medical professionals such as cosmetic surgeons are promoting risky and dangerous calorie-restricting diets and procedures so that individuals may reduce body fat and become slimmer and “younger” looking (Gillick, 2006). These diets and cosmetic procedures are mostly targeted towards middle-aged and older women (Bombardier, 2013; Calasanti, 2008). This intensifies the idea that aging is an individual problem and a burden that can be cured with beauty products, cosmetic surgeries, and diets (Bedford & Johnson, 2006). An unfortunate consequence from the current societal model of aging is the phenomenon of double jeopardy, which involves simultaneously experiencing being a woman and being old (Calasanti, 2008). In North America, a woman’s aging body is often considered as having been withered by ailment, rather than appreciated as a testimony to a long life and resilience to adversity (Calasanti, 2008). Consequently, many women feel trapped inside what they often perceive as unhealthy and flawed bodies (Calasanti, 2008). Statement of the Problem For both women and men, old age often brings an increase in body fat, wrinkled skin due to loss of elasticity, and numerous other inevitable effects of human aging (Clarke, 2010). Older adults, especially women, are also becoming increasingly 2 impoverished (Government of Canada, 2005; Sargeant, 2011; Townson 2009). Yet, aging North American women are still encouraged to do everything within their power to retain a youthful appearance (Calasanti, 2005). Resisting the natural processes