WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT AGE (60+)

VITALITY, SPIRITUALITY,AND SOLITUDE

Abstract

The present study is situated within the field of discussions on aging, gender, and subjectivity, addressing the empowerment of active older women (60+), with emphasis on the relationship between vitality, solitude, and religiosity. Historically, women have been socially constructed as dependent, fragile, and subordinate subjects, with their identities often reduced to the domestic sphere and their utility within the household. However, contemporary sociocultural transformations have enabled new forms of existence and social participation for this group. The objective of this research is to analyze how empowerment manifests in female old age, considering aspects such as autonomy, self-valuation, protagonism in decision-making, and the re-signification of solitude as a positive experience, distinct from loneliness. It also seeks to understand the role of religiosity as a structuring element in the construction of resilience and in coping with challenges inherent to aging. Methodologically, this is a qualitative study with an exploratory and descriptive character, based on bibliographic review and interdisciplinary theoretical analysis, articulating contributions from the fields of gerontology, social psychology, and gender studies. The results indicate that empowerment in old age is associated with increased autonomy, engagement in multiple social spaces, and the resignification of free time as an opportunity for personal development. It is also evident that religiosity acts as a symbolic and emotional support, fostering resilience in the face of experiences of exclusion and ageism. It is concluded that there is a need to strengthen public policies and promote a more inclusive social perspective that recognizes the potential of older
women and encourages their full participation in society.