Bhubaneswar: Older women continue to meaningfully contribute to their political, civil, economic, social and cultural lives, but their contributions and experiences remain largely invisible and disregarded, limited by gendered disadvantages. That’s what experts observed at a workshop to mark the United Nation’s International Day of Older Persons on Thursday.
The intersection between discrimination, based on age and gender, compounds new and existing inequalities, including negative stereotypes that combine ageism and sexism, speakers said at the workshop on ‘Resilience and Contribution of Older Women’ organized by Sociology and Psychology departments of Utkal University in collaboration with HelpAge India.
Prof. Bhaswati Patnaik, Head of Psychology department, stressed on mental ageing and stereotypification of the elderly.
Director of SSEPD Department Bratati Harichandan, Joint Director & State Head of HelpAge India Bharti Chakra, eminent gynaecologist Dr Seba Mohapatra and renowned women’s rights activist Bishakha Bhanja also spoke on the occasion.
Dr Rabindra Garada, Associate Professor of Sociology department, chaired a technical session.