FEMININE FACE OF AGING AND POVERTY IN THE URBAN CONTEXT OF TURKEY

ŞERIF ESENDEMIR

ABSTRACT

Our planet is graying in terms of its population. Turkey is not out of this demographic
transition in spite of its young and dynamic population. It is going through this change
with its rural and urban settings. However, the structure of this demographic shift is
gaining ground. Although aging is portrayed as a rural phenomenon in the current
debates on rural-urban duality due to the visibility of the aged, its urban aspect has
become increasingly apparent. A major focus of discussions on aging in Turkey is on the
feminization of aging. Women have higher life expectancy compared to males. However,
they also face a higher risk of poverty brought about by the urban feminization of aging.
This article is based on research carried out on this new sociological problem. But it
also offers parameters for a solution based on family-friendly development strategies.
Further, this article comparatively examines the rise of the importance of major cities,
as opposed to the decline of nation-states because of globalization. To do so, it employs
a statistical comparison of the poverty levels in the U.S. and Turkey. This study will
demonstrate how poverty has increasingly become a problem for the elderly female.
Additionally, The Madrid International Plan on Ageing and Political Declaration will
be referred to as a model in building a new perspective for eliminating poverty among
elderly women.