Lucie Vidovićová

Význam a obsah prarodičovské role u mladých českých seniorů a seniorek

Prarodicovstvi je jednou z nově objevujicich se socialnich roli mladeho staři. Neni vsak roli jedinou. V ramci diskursů o aktivnim starnuti se předpoklada, že mladi senioři budou aktivnimi nositeli řady dalsich roli ve veřejnem i soukromem životě. V přispěvku se proto zabývame prarodicovstvim v kontextu ostatnich roli mladých seniorů a seniorek. Pomoci integrovaneho přistupu k analýze reprezentativniho výběroveho setřeni „Životni role“ realizovaneho mezi osobami ve věku 50-70 let a kvalitativnich rozhovorů popisujeme, jake role mladi senioři zastavaji, a jak v ramci svých individualnich rolových setů usazuji a ramuji roli prarodicovskou. Popisujeme obsah typickeho výkonu role skrze podily hlavnich cinnosti a aktivit, kterými je role naplňovana. Pozornost přitom věnujeme genderovým rozdilům, ktere se projevuji jak v připisovanem významu role, tak v miře a typu vykonavaných cinnosti. Jako klicový problem se ukazuje casovost prarodicovske role, kdy intenzivni peci střida rolove prazdno. S výjimkou specifických socioekonomických kategoriich nebyly nezjistěny empiricke souvislosti mezi prarodicovstvim a pocity stěsti, přistupy ke starnuti, osamělosti, nebo stresu. Argumentujeme, že důvodem jsou předevsim aktivni strategie zvladani (rizik) přetiženi, ktere vedou k ustalene životni spokojenosti a vytvaři prostor pro zvladani komplexnich rolových setů mladých seniorů.

The Expected, Evaluated, Perceived, Valued and Prevalent Social Roles of Older People: Are They by Consent?

This chapter uses the Active Ageing Index (AAI) as an “operationalisation” of the active ageing paradigm and compares it with the perceived roles and contributions of older people and older peoples’ own preferences and prevalent role sets. The active ageing concept highlights productive roles such as worker, volunteer and care provider. However, the surveys show that older people are socially recognised primarily for their contributions as grandparents and providers of support for families. If the preferences of older people themselves are considered, the roles of grandparent, partner, friend and parent are attributed the highest value. The survey “Life roles (2014)” has shown that friend, parent, sibling and partner are the most prevalent roles. The discussion calls for strengthening the weight of the family roles within the AAI.

Attitudes Towards Population Ageing and Older People

The prospect of an older population composition, and more particularly the decreasing numbers of people in working age, is regarded by policy-makers and members of the research community as a threat to the sustainability of the existing welfare regimes. The fact that large proportions of citizens consider the rising number of older persons to be a worrisome evolution may be interpreted as a sign of a lack of intergenerational solidarity; apparently, the increasing numbers of older persons are rather regarded as a “menace”, and not as a positive evolution (greater longevity). Citizens’ opinions regarding the rising number of people aged 65 and more covers a broad topic. Citizens may regard the evolution as being “bad” because of its negative implications for the social security systems, such as the high costs for medical care and pension payments. Their opinion does not necessarily reflect their attitude toward older persons per se. This chapter is a mix of a “visual exploration” and of the application of a multivariate technique (GLM). The results show quite important differences between countries. Moreover, GLM estimates indicate that the most important individual characteristics are age and sex. As such, the results point to the importance of a “life course strategy” for enhancing true intergenerational solidarity.

Quality of Rural Life. Editorial 16 June 2018

Abstract The paper discusses the concept of the quality of life and its measuring. It tries to explain its peculiarities in the rural space considering different levels of education, professional activities, mobility, ways of dwelling, access to the social and technical infrastructure. The subjective perception of both urban and rural people to the rural quality of life can be manifested in moving in and moving out. The main shortages of the rural quality of life can be seen (by rural people) in a poor access to the prestigious and well-paid jobs and to a richer social life. The main advantages of the rural way of life are generally evaluated (by urban people) by better access to the nature. A promotion of the local identity is considered as an important tool for improving the rural quality of life (besides of a solution of infrastructural problems), considering the enormous difference among European rural areas of a big differentiation of the European countryside. The last part of the paper summarizes the contributions of the special number.

Older Adults and Civic Engagement in Rural Areas of the Czech Republic

Abstract Older adults represent a specific group of political and civic actors. In one line of argument, the growing number of people over 65 is gaining stronger voice and representation, and plays a stronger role in social, economic and political life and changes in societies. Another approach points to the social exclusion of older adults and their “oppressed voices”. Using a representative survey of the Czech rural population age 60+, Quality of Life of Seniors in Rural Areas (2016), we looked at the level and forms of civic engagement of older adults and their perceptions in rural areas. We found these attitudes associated with the “locus of control” as an indicator of agency and with place attachment. Some sociodemographic characteristics (being younger, having higher education) increase the probability of older adults’ civic participation in rural areas. The results enhance our knowledge on rural social networks in later life and point to untapped potential of older adults in the local contexts.

Path Dependency Versus New Determinants of Retirement in the Czech Republic

This chapter underlines the effects of historical path dependency, describes the current situation, and identifies some of the key factors of the institutional context of retirement on several levels, as well as workers’ preferences. Vidovicova argues that the perception of retirement as a “natural” right keeps the preferred retirement age low and hinders a more profound rise in the employment rate within the group of older workers. Repeated parametrical changes to the pension system, strongly felt age discrimination, and unemployment among the 50+ age group produce feelings of uncertainty and “push” older workers out of the labor market. Reasonable efforts have been made by the state to reverse these trends, change the determinants of retirement, and raise awareness of the aging of the Czech workforce.

Only Fools Rush In

Age at retirement and age of exit from the labour market have become an important issue in ageing European societies. This paper deals with the perspective that people aged 45–64 have towards the timing of their retirement. We examine the question of the preferred and expected ages at retirement and introduce the concept of “desire to retire early”. Using the results of the PPAS, the paper uncovers the paradox of early retirement. Our respondents know that their societies are ageing and that their own lives are going to be longer, resulting in a higher proportion of old-age pensioners. Today’s old-age pension systems in many cases have quite a substantial impact on the standard of living of new retirees. However, our respondents indicate a considerable desire to retire early no matter these facts and regardless of their country of residence, gender and other factors. This desire to retire early does not seem to have a strong influence on whether they favour various policy measures.