EDUCATION IN LATER LIFE - THE CASE OF OLDER WOMEN

Although education is considered to positively affect the quality of life in old age and to be instrumental in helping older adults successfully negotiate later-life transitions, educational programming has not addressed the particular challenges facing older women as they age. Women's economic, social, and personal resources are more vulnerable in old age due to gender-related limitations experienced across their entire life span. The predominantly leisure-oriented perspective that governs educational opportunities for the older adult does not significantly impact on the well-being of the aging woman in acknowledging this imbalance in resources. By grounding educational objectives in a resource development paradigm, efforts can be made to enhance individual resources as well as to promote changes in the social relations of power, privileges, and opportunities upon which current access and allocation of resources are based.