| “Growing Old Disgracefully” takes issue with the marginalization of older women today, demonstrating, through selected works of fiction, that a woman becomes a Crone as the result of having developed a feminist consciousness and therefore having discovered depths of courage, strength, and wisdom in herself. This study intends to show that the capacity to achieve empowerment in old age is contingent upon a woman's ability to transcend the limitations of the traditional feminine gender role and establish a strong identity of her own. As indicated by the title of this work, aging “gracefully,” which may be an indication of slipping, declining, and disappearing into ageist norms, isn't the point; what's important is a woman's capacity to become more authentically herself as she ages. Growing old “disgracefully” is a choice to be made about living a life of risk-taking and continual growth. Throwing off any contrived role, and recognizing no authority but her own, the Crone stands as a model for aging women today.; This project also challenges the one-dimensional ageist view of women, which allows no room for diversity. The body of texts consists of novels and short fiction (ten works total, all but one by women authors) that work together to represent the reality of cultural diversity that makes up the lives of older women in North America today. In my analysis of these works, I draw connections between aging women today and the model of the ancient mythic Crone in order to determine specific characteristics by which the Crone can be recognized and emulated. This analysis includes a discussion of the specific tasks that mark the Crone's journey, with each one serving as the focus of an individual chapter. These tasks include defying conventional gender roles, establishing a community of women, serving as Elders to a younger counterpart, telling stories as legacy, and having an attitude of acceptance toward mortality.; The methodology of this project is not confined to that of literary analysis but draws upon interdisciplinary research, including current sociological, historical, and anthropological studies, directly related to the subject of feminist aging. |
