Continuity and Transformation Among the Aged: A Study in the Anthropology of Time [and Comments]

Singlehood, Waiting, and the Sociology of Time1

“…The sociology of time, with its rich and rapidly growing literature of the past decades, has succeeded in charting how notions of time govern, inform, and interpret social meanings. Nonetheless, although social theorists of time have focused on a variety of issues—among them, for example, social institutions (Zerubavel, 1979, 1981), life course (Elder, 1994), aging and old age (Hazan, 1984, 1994), or family time (Daly, 1996; Gillis, 2001)—research has yet to consider the sociotemporal dimensions of singlehood. In turn, recent studies of singlehood have not taken into account how sociotemporal dimensions constitute—in part—the discursive positioning of single persons, and thus socially construct singlehood.…”

Creative ageing? Selfhood, temporality and the older adult learner

“…She aligns herself with other anthropologists who have positioned themselves against the assumption that older people live in a static time universe. They argue that growing older is actually experienced as a time of enormous and rapid change (Hazan, 1980(Hazan, , 1984Heikkinen, 2000). Degnen's work is useful when thinking about educational planning and processes because it challenges both normative models of temporality and normative models of self.…”

The meaning of stigma: identity construction in two old-age institutions

“…Such behaviour can be stigmatised as compulsive-obsessive mental aberration, but may more accurately be seen as attempts to limit the existential world to activities over which control is possible. If this is to be shown, we must observe the negotiated order of the old-age institution from the residents' point of view, rather than applying a dismissive (middle-age) definition of the situation (see also Hazan 1980Hazan , 1984Hazan , 1986Hazan , 1987.…”

“…Against this bleak picture, there exists an important stream of research from a symbolic-interactionist perspective that views old-age institutions as social arenas. Following G. H. Mead's (1934) 'symbolic interactionism', this perspective focuses on intersubjective meanings constructed through social relationships (Denzin 1997), and demonstrates that old-age institutions can become settings for the reconstruction of new and alternative identities and forms of social interaction (Gubrium 1993 ;Hazan 1980Hazan , 1984Hazan , 1987Reed and Payton 1996 ;Unruh 1983). By comparing these processes in two settings, an oldage home and a sheltered housing project for older people, this article examines the impact of institutional constraints on older people's relationships, management of identity and quality of life.…”