Trying to be someone you can never be again: retirement as a signifier of old age

Abstract

Work occupies a central place in identity formation. Consequently, retirement places retirees in a new reality that compels them to redefine themselves and adopt a new identity. The present article examines how retirees shape their identity in the absence of work. An interpretive analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with retirees in Israel shows that although retirement and old age are not necessarily equivalent or interconnected, the retirees themselves draw parallels between them, and at the same time also deny this linkage, preferring to draw a distinction between them. The findings reinforce the argument presented in the literature, namely that in contemporary society it is difficult to identify with old age. They also propose a new perspective that reveals the negotiation retirees conduct with old age, age and body, and how identity is shaped by way of denial. In this negotiation the retirees construct their identity around two central, parallel axes: retirement and old age. It further emerges that it is precisely the efforts to mask and repress old age, which are usually made in the body domain, that attest to the existence and presence of old age in their identity. Denial of old age creates a dynamic, hybrid identity that enables retirees to simultaneously accept and reject old age.

There Is Nobody to Rely on: Cracks in the Intergenerational Contract Among the Elders in Arab Society in Israel

“…Arab society presents a hybrid conception of ageing, and the analysis of the intergenerational relations does not generate a single, complete, coherent, or consistent narrative but rather a variety of discourses taking place in space and time that can be understood in broader social contexts (Manor, 2017). It thus preserves collective values regarding the importance of family and respect for the elders.…”

Ageing, ageism, and lost honor: Narratives of Arab elders in Israel

“…Paradoxically, spending time with older people in one's own age group contributes to self-ageism. Furthermore, research findings have indicated that older people who live with other older people tend to perceive themselves as younger than their chronological age and belonging to a younger age group (Manor 2017). It is, remarkably, older people themselves who formulate ageist positions toward their peers while denying their own age and treating the group to which they belong stereotypically (Bodner 2009;Gamliel & Hazan 2006;Manor 2017).…”

“…Furthermore, research findings have indicated that older people who live with other older people tend to perceive themselves as younger than their chronological age and belonging to a younger age group (Manor 2017). It is, remarkably, older people themselves who formulate ageist positions toward their peers while denying their own age and treating the group to which they belong stereotypically (Bodner 2009;Gamliel & Hazan 2006;Manor 2017). Support for this argument that older people hold negative views of their own age group, despite being completely unfamiliar with the word ageism, was also found in other studies (Minichiello et al 2000).…”

Discourses of work life in narrative identities of people with advanced dementia

“…Silver 24 showed that people in executive positions could perceive retirement as an unwanted change forced by social pressure because work provided them with a sense of productivity, networking opportunities, significant fulfillment, and personal satisfaction they did not want to lose. Manor 22 pointed out that the moment of retirement marked the transition to old age and that participants in her study strongly rejected the idea of becoming old. Additionally, work is also a crucial aspect of self‐identity for people with dementia, as demonstrated by Cohen‐Mansfield et al 25 .…”

“…Narrative identity is shaped by various social roles we undertake throughout our lives. For adults, work is one of the most important sources of identity and social affiliation 21,22 . Many studies have shown that work continues to be an essential aspect of self‐identity even after retirement.…”