The Culture of Social Participation of Older people as a Way of Expressing and Preserving Identity

Abstract

The study deals with the urgent problem of aging, which is considered not as a biological, but as a socio-cultural process. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of identification process in old age. The author examines the role of culture and its influence on identity. The difference in cultural archetypes is reflected in the understanding of the concept of aging. The paper shows that an elderly person is facing an identity crisis. The cultural context, gender, place of residence, family, and nature of work affect the presence and depth of this crisis and, as a result, the very activity of a person in old age. The analysis of the modern concepts of “active aging” demonstrates the need for urther consideration of this topic. The author addresses the issue of the formation of identity of the “victim” as one of the forms of ageism in modern culture. The study concludes that a culture of participation may act as a tool enabling older people to express and preserve their identity, as well as to avoid crisis and the formation of the victim's identity. The author consider the culture of participation as an opportunity to be a contributor and creator of culture, not just its consumer.