Summary
Contents
Subject index
Focusing on an overlooked and understudied population, Understanding Older Chicanas examines older Chicanas' lives, status, and public policy needs. Chicana elderly tend to be poor, reflecting the economic position of Chicanos in American society; they also tend to be stereotyped as widows and grandmothers, reflecting the cultural values of Mexican American society. This work shows how Chicana elderly cope with this economic and cultural marginality and how they gain the personal and financial resources they require. Author Elisa Facio also relates how scholars and public policymakers have previously understood Chicana elderly, provides new data on the social meaning of Chicana old age, and points out the implications of that meaning for future policymakers. This perceptive volume is essential reading for those in academic and policy settings who are interested in issues regarding multicultural aging experiences, diversification, life-cycle phases, socialization, and women.
Being Old and Poor: Structural Constraints in Chicana Old Age
Being Old and Poor: Structural Constraints in Chicana Old Age
Poverty among older Chicanas involves dependency on social programs for the aged poor, specifically Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. Nearly all the women in this study had been employed in the secondary labor market or service sector as farm workers, domestics, and cannery workers. Like other older Chicanas, they found that their past occupations provided little financial security in old age. Also, poverty for this population is characterized by an extreme vulnerability to poor health. Many women are primarily concerned with debilitating illnesses and becoming dependent and with whether their children will provide tangible financial assistance. Given their situation, older Chicanas develop a complex familial ...
- Loading...