Older Women’s Retrospective Narratives of Their Work and Learning Pathways

Abstract

To contribute to theory development that is relevant to women across countries and cultures, an international, qualitative research study has been undertaken into the retrospective career stories of older women (aged 45-65). Twelve women were interviewed in depth in each of three countries, Australia, England, and South Africa. The combination of developing, as well as developed, countries in the research has enriched the examination of the career development of older women in these contrasting economic contexts. Thirty-six in-depth interviews have provided stories of older women that have emerged from an exploration of their work and learning pathways. Based on these stories, in this chapter we review the broad context of women's position in labor markets internationally, briefly outline the qualitative research approach adopted for this research investigation, present emergent findings under three key themes (learning across the life-span, work influences, and social influences), and, in the light of these findings, consider the relevance of existing career theory for women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)