Embodied tales of older women and their relationship with movement and their younger, present and future selves

Abstract

Ageing has been often seen as negative in Western cultures. Older bodies are frequently associated with decline, loss, dependency, illness and increasing incompetence. Significantly, this ‘decline model’ of ageing tends to ignore the diverse lived experiences of older adults. This paper draws on the theoretical concepts of embodiment and affect to explore the embodied experiences of a group of 17 older women, focussing on their relationship with movement and with their younger, present and future selves. We used a narrative analysis approach and creative nonfiction to represent the data. The findings are presented in composite narratives in the form of three letters: 1. A letter to my younger self, 2. A letter to my present self, and 3. A letter to the future self. Analysis of the data generated through sensory interviews reveals the forces, capacities, intensities and assemblages the participants have expressed, along with the nuances and complexities of their embodied experiences and how these circulate in relationships. Participants allowed themselves to imagine potential futures, new lines of flight and physical possibilities for their lives.