Gendered dimensions of old age care in a time of crisis: Experiences of elderly women at Bako Redonhodzo Old People's Home in Harare, Zimbabwe

abstract

This Briefing relates the experiences of women in a state-run institution in 2008 at the height of Zimbabwe's economic and political crisis. The crisis, characterised by record inflation and massive food, basic commodities and currency shortages, impacted negatively on the state's ability to provide key services. Bako Redonhodzo Old People's Home was severely affected. The British charity HelpAge cut its funding in 2008 as foreign aid into Zimbabwe continued to dwindle during the political crisis in the country. The Home had little or no assistance from government and was dependent for its survival on well-wishers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Within this context of crisis and poverty, we sought to find out in what ways gender influenced the experiences of elderly people at the Home. Using qualitative research methods, the research reflects that old age is intricately linked to class and gender. Gender analysis of the experience of the residents of Bako Redonhodzo Home reflect that elderly women were precariously situated and experienced the crisis in ways that reflect specific gendered needs. Their vulnerabilities and desires distinguished them from their male counterparts in the time of crisis, where shortages and lack of social security were the defining features of existence.

Keywords:

• Elderly
• gender
• Zimbabwe
• old people's homes
• economic crisis

Notes

1. Elderly men wielded respect based upon their control of land, food and cattle (Clarke, 1977). They were regarded as keepers of culture and imparters of knowledge (Bourdillion, 1976). Whilst elderly men were respected more because of a patriarchal system that privileges male ancestry, elderly women were also accorded respect.

2. All names used in this paper are pseudonyms.

3. See news reports, ‘Diane's old age home in Zimbabwe “penniless”’, May 11, 2012, Zee News, ‘Zimbabwe, old and hapless’, Irin News, 2 July 2007; ‘Working towards zero tolerance’, Herald Online.