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Self-Perception of When Old Age Begins for Cambodian Elders
Aging in the US
You are considered old by society in the US when your retirement benefits start at 65 years old
Self-Perception of When Old Age Begins for Cambodian Elders Living in the United States By Nicole Dubus
Aging in Cambodia
Background
Age as a Social construct
- You are considered old when your first grandchild is born
- At this point, the grandparent stops working and helps raise the baby
- also considered old when you feel tired during the work day, this generally happens between 40-50 years old
Cambodian refugees came to the US to escape the Khmer Rouge in the late 1970s and early 1980s
a small study done in the north eastern United States that has one of the largest Cambodian populations.
The 32 participants were all apart of an elder day center
- aging is a social construct because it reflects the beliefs, expectations and social roles of members of a culture at various stages of life
Refugee Vs. Immigrant Experience
Hard-Work Life
- refugees flee their country under duress and settle in a country not necessarily of their choosing
- immigrants usually move to a new country with hopes of a different and better life
The Khmer Rouge
- Cambodians believe that once you feel tired during the working day you will stop working and your children will care for you
Generational conflict in the US
Conclusion
Compare
- The children of the refugees have adopted the the US individualistic ideas so they don't want their parents help
-this causes the grandparent to begin to feel like a burden to their children and that they can't give advice on how to care for the baby
- other life events signify entering old age
-how the differences between cultures and expectation can be difficult for refugees
- In contrast, the Dobe Ju/'hoansi do not feel like a burden
- interesting to note that the age range for when the Cambodian refugees and the Dobe Ju/'hoansi is the same at 40-50 years old
Image by Tom Mooring