Aspiring in Later Life: Movements across Time, Space, and Generations

This book explores how aspirations are constructed from the vantage point of later life, and how they are pursued across time, space, and generations. It offers original insights into how aspirations shift over the course of life and how they are pursued in contexts of translocal mobility.

Format: Hardback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2023
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

In our interconnected and globalized world, individuals often pursue their aspirations across multiple locations. However, in public and scholarly discussions, aspirations are often associated with younger, mobile generations, as they are perceived to hold the greatest potential for shaping the future. This volume challenges this notion by examining how aspirations are constructed from the perspective of later life, revealing how they are pursued across time, space, and generations.

The aspirations of older people are diverse and multifaceted, extending beyond aging itself. They involve planning for the future of subsequent generations, preparing for an ideal retirement, seeking intimacy and self-realization, and confronting the inevitability of death and afterlives.

Aspiring in Later Life offers a rich tapestry of ethnographic cases from diverse regions worldwide. These cases provide original insights into how aspirations evolve throughout life and how they are pursued within the context of translocal mobility. By exploring these diverse aspirations, the book sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of human motivation and the ways in which individuals navigate the challenges and opportunities of life's later stages.

This book is not only of interest to scholars and researchers in the fields of aging, sociology, and social anthropology but also to a broader audience interested in understanding the dynamics of human aspirations and the role of mobility in shaping them. The open-access digital edition of the book makes it freely accessible to anyone, allowing a wider readership to engage with these important insights.

In conclusion, Aspiring in Later Life offers a groundbreaking perspective on the construction of aspirations in later life, challenging the notion that they are solely the domain of younger generations. By exploring the diverse aspirations of older people across time, space, and generations, the book provides valuable insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of human motivation and the ways in which individuals navigate the challenges and opportunities of life's later stages.

Dimension: 235 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978830417