Unsung Heroines of Indian Society–Potential Human Resource need of Recognition

Abstract

Old age is nevertheless universally accepted as the last phase of human life and it has to be lived with grace and dignity. The meaning of old age differs from one society to other and the understanding of old age depends on the social, cultural and economic factors. Ageing has been viewed differently by different people whereas to some it means power, authority and wisdom and others consider it as a forced retirement. Old age is often determined by the age of retirement in industrial society. Retirement is the withdrawal from one’s occupation, business or office having finished one’s active working life. Retirement puts an end to the lifelong habit of hurriedly preparing to one’s workplace and attending to day long occupational obligations. Retirement leads to reduced income and also loss of status and power. Retirement has a major impact on the physical and psychological health and functional competence of retired people. In most of the third world countries, women are considered as second class citizens and the situation of aged women is highly vulnerable. Feminization of ageing has become a worldwide trend and demographic data projects that aged women outnumber the aged men in developing nations. This study makes an attempt to analyze the situation of the retired aged women in Madurai district and this study particularly focuses the current life situation of the retired aged women.