INVISIBLE WOMEN? FEMININITY OF WOMEN IN THE STAGE OF LIFE BETWEEN THE MIDDLE AND LATE ADULTHOOD

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to reconstruct components of the process of formation femininity in case of women over fiſty – those who are in stage of life between the middle and late adulthood. This issue refers to the broader subject of identity.
The author of the article refers to some theoretical concepts on the issues of life cyclicality, identity and femininity and presents empirical data from her qualitative study “Mature women – selected areas of their activities”. As research workers point out, the phase of mid-adulthood is perceived by the individuals as functioning between young people and elder people worlds. Therefore, it requires constructing a new conception of “herself”. The redefinition of identity components is needed. Facing the ageing process and new social roles is also required. The identity components of mature women of the collected data are dominated by their family roles.
Psychological and biological dimensions, connected with the process of constructing mature femininity and sexuality, as the research results show, appear to still be a taboo. Statements given by women who took part in the qualitative research are dominated by stereotypes and age prejudice.