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Workshop 29.-30. April 2005, Kassel
The worldwide increase of life expectancy, coupled with a decreasing birth rate, has led to populations with increased numbers of more-than-60 year-olds. This demographical change represents an enormous challenge to the European social welfare and health care systems.
Thereby the health in old-age is largely determined by resources and strains experienced in previous life stages. Gender-specific disparities during the life span cumulate during old age and characterize the inequalities of living arrangements, socio-economical status, condition of health, conduct of health maintenance and well-being in old age. Gender-related norms and roles determine strains and resources existing in an individual’s life, and giving rise to strategies for coping with everyday requirements, such as the balancing of work and family.
Even though different european countries may be characterized by widely varying health, pension and social systems, and family traditions, the challenges arising from the demographic changes present similar problems. Political and structural changes and upheavals, such as changes in family structures, the developments on the employment market, political reforms, migration movements in connection with globalisation and the growing together of Europe, increasing the dependence of single states on each other. The cooperation within the European Economic Community, necessitate trans-national definitions of problems and of developing strategies for solving them. For this upcoming challenges, research should focus on the questions as to which knowledge will be necessary, and which possibly successful strategies for coping already exist in individual countries, or within a cross-border project.
The Workshop: “Ageing, Health and Gender” will be concentrating on gender-specific conditions and possible lifelong strategies for managing resources and strains, and their effects on health and life-situations in old age. The emphasis will be on strategies promoting “successful” coping with the changes brought on by ageing, but also the roles of gender, gender-relations and social environments in old age.The objective of the workshop will be the cross-border exchange of information on models of best practice and conducive conditions, and the question of how to possibly implement such models and strategies. The aim of the workshop is to develop and to initiate research projects and co-operations by and between scientists and practitioners from the various European states. We are particularly interested in strengthening the East-West dialogue. The workshop will offer opportunities to clarify topics and forms of cooperation.
Organized by:
Prof. Dr. Gertrud M. Backes,
Chair of Social Gerontology, Department of Social Services, University of Kassel, Germany
Dr. Vera Lasch,
Interdisciplinary Working Group of Women and Gender Research, University of Kassel, Germany
Katja Reimann,
Chair of Social Gerontology, Department of Social Services, University of Kassel, Germany
In Cooperation with the
European Women’s Health Network EWHNET
Convention Location:
ESG – Evangelische Studenten Gemeinde
Dietrich-Bonhoeffer-Haus
Mönchebergstr. 29
34125 Kassel
Fee for catering:
20,- €, Students 10,- €
Organizational
The workshop will be held in the ESG closed to the main campus of the University of Kassel. Please register in advance. We will send you a location plan. For more information see:
http://www.uni-kassel.de/iag-fg/AktVeranst.htm
The workshop will be held in English.
Contact and Registration:
Katja Reimann, Department of Social Services
University of Kassel
Tel: ++49-(0)561/804-2759
Fax: ++49-(0)561-804-7940
Email: k.reimann@uni-kassel.de
The workshop is financed by the Hessen State Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts.
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