Older Women's Lives and Voices: Participation and Policy in Sheffield

The main focus of the project was on the development of participative methodologies in investigating the intersection between older women’s lives and their ‘voices’; their ability to have a say about policy implementation at the micro level, within Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. This was explored through eleven discussion groups were held, each meeting twice and involving a total of 100 older women ranging from 50-94 years, from Black-Caribbean, Irish, Chinese, Somali and white British from existing social groups and political forums. Ten women were then recruited from the discussion groups and trained to interview individual members of the groups (n47) in more details about their lives. They helped to identify key themes and continue to play a part in publicising findings from the study. These stages were filmed for a video of the project. Key service providers and policy makers (n18) were also invited to comment on issues of public participation. <p>The main focus of the project was on the development of participative methodologies in investigating the intersection between older women’s lives and their ‘voices’; their ability to have a say about policy implementation at the micro level, within Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England.
Eleven discussion groups were held, each meeting twice and involving a total of 100 older women ranging from 50-94 years, from Black-Caribbean, Irish, Chinese, Somali and white British from existing social groups and political forums. Ten women were then recruited from the discussion groups and trained to interview individual members of the groups (n47) in more details about their lives. They helped to identify key themes and continue to play a part in publicising findings from the study. These stages were filmed for a video of the project. Key service providers and policy makers (n18) were also invited to comment on issues of public participation.
Quality of life was generally expressed in terms of what was good and what difficult about participants’ lives. Positive aspects of ageing included increased self-acceptance and confidence, the easing of domestic and childcare commitments, and increased leisure and work opportunities. The importance of family was universal, and some women had taken on new roles providing childcare support for grandchildren. Few had direct experience of ‘having a say’ on policy issues. Interviews with service providers revealed awareness of and support for the principle of participation. Achievement of this aim was undermined by lack of time and funding, the pressures of national targets, differing priorities and needs across partnership organisations, and difficulties in reaching ‘hidden voices’, especially where translators were needed. They were also cynical about the ability of research to affect change. The OWLV project has also generated important lessons for participatory initiatives.</p>

本项目的核心聚焦于开发参与式方法论，以探究老年女性的生活与她们的“话语权”之间的交集，即她们在英格兰南约克郡谢菲尔德地区的微观层面上，就政策实施议题发声的能力。该研究通过举办11个讨论小组展开，每组开展两次会议，共有100名年龄介于50至94岁之间的老年女性参与，她们来自加勒比黑人、爱尔兰、华裔、索马里裔以及白人英国族群，均隶属于现有社交团体与政治论坛。随后从这些讨论小组中招募10名女性，对其进行培训，使其能够更深入地访谈小组中的47名成员（n47），了解她们的生活状况。这些受训女性协助提炼核心研究主题，并持续参与研究成果的宣传工作。整个研究流程均被拍摄，用于制作项目相关视频。此外，还邀请了18名关键服务提供商与政策制定者（n18），就公共参与相关议题发表意见。 本项目的核心聚焦于开发参与式方法论，以探究老年女性的生活与她们的“话语权”之间的交集，即她们在英格兰南约克郡谢菲尔德地区的微观层面上，就政策实施议题发声的能力。
共举办11个讨论小组，每组开展两次会议，共有100名年龄介于50至94岁之间的老年女性参与，她们来自加勒比黑人、爱尔兰、华裔、索马里裔以及白人英国族群，均隶属于现有社交团体与政治论坛。随后从这些讨论小组中招募10名女性，对其进行培训，使其能够更深入地访谈小组中的47名成员（n47），了解她们的生活状况。这些受训女性协助提炼核心研究主题，并持续参与研究成果的宣传工作。整个研究流程均被拍摄，用于制作项目相关视频。此外，还邀请了18名关键服务提供商与政策制定者（n18），就公共参与相关议题发表意见。
参与者对生活质量的表述通常围绕自身生活中的积极方面与困境展开。老龄化带来的积极影响包括自我接纳与自信心提升、家务与育儿负担减轻，以及休闲与工作机会增多。家庭的重要性在参与者中具有普适性，部分女性还承担起照料孙辈的新角色。极少有人曾直接参与政策议题的发声。对服务提供商的访谈显示，他们认同并支持参与式原则，但该目标的实现受到多重因素掣肘：缺乏时间与资金、国家考核指标带来的压力、合作组织间优先级与需求存在差异，以及难以接触到“隐形的声音”——尤其是在需要翻译支持的场景中。同时，他们对研究能否推动社会变革持怀疑态度。OWLV项目也为参与式研究举措提供了宝贵的经验借鉴。