This project seeks to tell the story of older women. Statistically, the situation of many people over 50 in the United Kingdom is bleak. 25% of unemployed people in the United Kingdom are over the age of 50. Add to this the high gender pay and pension gap, and an unexpected increase in pension age, the situation of older women is even bleaker. Greater Manchester, where the project is focussed, has some of the lowest rates of economic inactivity in the United Kingdom, where 33% of women between the ages of 50-64 years are economically inactive. At the age of 65 years, only 30% of women in Manchester are still in work and, comparatively with men, there are three times more women between the ages of 50-64 years in part-time work. The unexpected increase in pension age in the United Kingdom only sought to exacerbate the financial situation of this particular group of women. Finances, social connections, and the quality of jobs have all worsened for the over 50s compared to previous generations, with older people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds being the most disadvantaged. Older people from minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to earn less and be less able to retire. This project seeks to ask the fundamental question – what are the reasons for these inequalities in work - by interviewing these diverse women on issues such as accessing work, in-work conditions, reasons for exiting work and the impact of COVID-19.

Older people with chronic health conditions or disability, Older people with vulnerabilities, Older women only

Housing, Labour, Social protection

Government, Civil Society Organization, Academia

Older people were part of the process at multiple or all stages

This is a truly participatory project involving collaboration with multiple organisations including Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, Manchester City Council Work and Skills Team and a host of women-led organisations from Manchester. The project was formed by the artist, Suzanne Lacy, and the Learning Manager at Manchester Art Gallery. From March -August 2020, as a result of the pandemic, a series of online conversations were hosted by Manchester Art Gallery and the artist. Activists, academics, art professionals, policy makers and representatives of local government were invited to discuss existing and emerging issues facing older women and work and the seeds of the project were sown. In September 2020, the Advisory Group of 15 women was formed to advise on all aspects of the project and represented a diverse group of older women (50-80 years) who were active in their communities. Weekly online meetings to develop project goals and co-design a gallery installation and a ‘data matrix’ were held and through their communities, the Advisory Group recruited 100 women from different backgrounds and experiences to take part in the live interviews held in the Gallery in the summer of 2021. Collaboration with Manchester City Council Work and Skills team also led the development of workshops for older women. A participatory research team was formed from the Advisory Group members and the existing researchers. This team is currently co-authoring a policy report and work is on-going with the Advisory Group to co-design a manifesto for older women.

The project has provided a voice for older women to identify and challenge the inequalities they face: “You know, when we talk about voices which I never heard, the silent voices, they are there, or the voices which are at the bottom, that's how I described my voice. It is on the fringes, but coming to [Uncertain Futures], all of a sudden it was on the centre ground. And that transition, it might be something which is an everyday for others, but for me it was massive.” The project built capacity and provided opportunities for leadership in both the participants and the members of the Advisory Group: “[M]y role was two in one. I was a participant and at the same time I became a pseudo research analyst. So it was really that dynamic, moving from being a participant. Now I am analysing the dynamic. It was so empowering and transformative.” In addition, there was a lot of impact generated from the collaborative and peer-supportive nature of the work, with many of the Advisory Group members taking away many lessons to use in their own communities. It was also integral in improving social inclusion by bringing women into a public space which they would not normally or, in some cases, ever frequent. The celebration dinner in March 2022 is a testament to this. One woman commented: “And every time I feel that I'm looking at other women and I think of that dinner, that dinner, to me, was so important”.

In participatory work there are obvious challenges relating to time constraints and maintaining relationships over long periods. Managing expectations from the outset has been a key priority of the project team. The weekly meetings serve as an opportunity to highlight the on-going nature of the project and the pivotal role of each person, allowing cultural perspectives of all the women to be heard. As the project progressed, these weekly meetings became less frequent but they are still the core element of the communication strategy. It is this communication which has been pivotal in successfully managing the expectations of the women involved and ensuring not only that time wis managed effectively but that relationships are adequately maintained. Another issue which concerned the University-based researchers from the outset was one of decolonisation. This was a concern as both researchers are white, as was the artist. This concern is not unique to this project and often arises in race relations research. While not perfect, the project aimed to overcome these challenges by taking certain practical steps to insure great inclusivity: being inclusive in terms of the design of the research questions, garnering consent and viewpoints in applying for research opportunities, seeking views on draft materials, incorporating the work of the group within research publications and ensuring named credit for all those involved, even in a small way, in the construction of research, and also ensuing true participation in research analysis.

We have learned two key lessons from this activity: (1) participatory research is an invaluable tool for impact-oriented work, particularly in the age context and (2) understanding intersectionality is a key element in tackling ageism and developing more age-friendly environments. Participatory research has allowed the project team to uncover real challenges, to hear voices which would otherwise have remained unheard and to ensure these voices form a pivotal part of the recommendations put forward. Participatory research allows for a more in-depth understanding of the challenges faced and more creative and practical solutions to be uncovered. It also means that many of the outputs of the project receive greater attention from key stakeholders due to the manner of their production. In the age context, this is key as these voices are often unheard and the solutions are often multi-generational which can ease tensions and reduce some of the misunderstandings associated with ageing. The project has also through the participatory and interdisciplinary nature of the work uncovered much about the impact of ageism on older women. One of the key take home messages of the project has been the impact of intersectionality on the experiences of older women and that the lack of national and international protection against intersectional discrimination means that tackling ageism and creating more age-friendly environments is more challenging. Understanding how age interacts with gender, race, disability, migration status and socio-economic status is key to tackling some of the ingrained stereotypes associated with age and to developing age-friendly environments.

N/A