O envelhecimento feminino na sociedade do espetáculo

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the perception of female aging at the beginning of 21st century, in women of a medium town from the state of Minas Gerais. To do so, it was also discussed the female aging and their approaches, surveyed about the aspects of culture and the denial of aging by women. It was also analyzed the relation between women and this stage of life. The design of this research was a qualitative exploratory study with the utilization of a semistructured interview to collect data, which were obtained through a sample panel of 47 participants who shared the same sociocultural reality. From the interviews recorded and transcribed, broke for Content Analysis and interpretation of data, based on the theoretical framework presented in this study. The reports were organized into three major themes: women, aging and body, which developed into subcategories. It was found that for women from the group studied, the fact of belonging to the female gender is tied to social roles displayed by them and the feeling pointed by the perception of themselves as women. Regarding the category body, emerged the attitudinal component, the questions that tie in the loss of functionality and appearance, highlighting the importance of the mirror, vanity, brands offered by the aging and weight gain. On the issue of aging, this were represented by those interviewed, from losses resulting from aging (as loss of autonomy, of social aspects and of life) and also the assignment of meaning to menopause as a milestone in the female aging.