Abstract
This paper explores the relationship between the dimensions of a debate cited at the intersection of ageing, gender, and family care. It draws together evidence from the General Household Survey for Britain 2000 and social research to explore the contribution and conceptualization of caring by older husbands. UK research on caring reveals that among older spouses, equal numbers of husbands and wives provide intensive care. It has been argued that within late-life marriage an over-riding desire to retain independence erodes gender-determined task allocation, suggesting not only similarity but equality between wives and husbands as carers. More recent qualitative research challenges this assumption and suggests two key findings: that older husbands are motivated to care by a combination of marital duty and reciprocal love, and that they manage the tasks of caring within an instrumental framework. Further, it is clear that pre-existing gender relations continue to be powerful determinants of the experience of caring, and that marital power is retained by men in late-life marriage. Overall, the caring contribution of older husbands is imbued with positive meaning, is highly valued, and offers a distinctive role and identity; this contrasts sharply with the caring experiences of older wives.
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Her key research interests are older people with mental health problems, older carers, preventive services, and social inequalities and later life.
Her current research interests are service provision for older people and quality of life, the service user movement in welfare, citizenship rights, and user empowerment.
Material from the National Statistics is Crown Copyright; it has been made available by the Office of National Statistics through the Data Archive and has been used with their permission. Neither the ONS nor the Data Archive bears any responsibility for the analysis or interpretation of the data reported in this paper.
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Milne, A., Hatzidimitriadou, E. “Isn’t he wonderful?” Exploring the contribution and conceptualization of older husbands as carers. Ageing Int. 28, 389–407 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-003-1011-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-003-1011-y