Equal Opportunities for Older Women
About the initiative Content and framework conditions Organisational background Back
Seminar on the occasion of the International Year of the Female Senior Citizen 1999 "Frauen werden älter" (Women get Older)
Communicational details
Address:
Bundesministerium für Soziale Sicherheit und Generationen, Abt.3/1, Ballhausplatz 1
1010 Wien
Austria
Contact persons and their known foreign languages:
Mag. Eva Krichmayr, Organiser/legal department, English
Telephone: + 43-1-53115-2325
Telefax: + 43-1-53115-4297
E-Mail: www.bmsg.gv.at
Internet: eva.krichmayr@bmsg.gv.at
About the initiative
Status of the initiative: The initiative is an initiative aimed at improving equal opportunities for older women through an organisation that pursues objectives which are independent of gender or age.
The initiative has the dicisive support of the following organisation:
ehemaliges Bundesministerium für Frauenangelegenheiten und Verbraucherschutz
nunmehr: Bundesministerium für soziale Sicherheit und Generationen, Abt.III/1, Sektion für Frauenangelegenheiten
Address:
Ballhausplatz 1
1010 Wien
Austria
Telephone: 0043-1-53115-2325
Telefax: 0043-1-53115-4297
E-Mail: eva.krichmayr@bmsg.gv.at
Internet: www.bmsg.gv.at
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Content and framework conditions of the project work
The initiative was founded in: 1999
The initiative was founded because of the following reasons: On the occasion of the "International Year of the Female Senior Citizen 1999" a seminar was to be organised specifically around women's issues and aimed at establishing the current status of older and old women and their needs now and in the future.
1-day seminar on 23.6. 1999 (with an evening programme)
Target group(s): No specific target groups. The actual target groups were above all people working with older people.
Targets: -To draw attention to the fact that ageing is a women's theme in Austria too
-To establish the current status of older and old women's living conditions in Austria
-To define their needs in the various realms of life.
Details of the work done by the initiative:

Lectures:
Univ.Prof.Dr. Bolgnese-Leuchtenmüller (social historian, University of Vienna): "Alter:Zukunft der Frauen - Frauen der Zukunft": there is a need to view ageing in terms of gender; high life-expectancy is above all a women's issuee; women too are mainly effected by health impairments in old age
Mag. Schmid (responsible for socio-political affairs at AK Wien): "Verbesserte Alterssicherung für Frauen": financial security in old age is a precondition for individual development in old age. Goal: creation of pension entitlements for women who were unable to build up such entitlements due to interruptions in their working lives for family reasons.
Mag. Elsa Königshofer (geronto-psychotherapist): "Frühlingserwachen, Sommersonnenwende, Altweibersommer, Morgenröte": in the spring and summer of their lives girls/women are proud to be older. Around the ages of 45/50 many women can no longer accept the fact of ageing. Women do not age, they become more mature!
Anne Rose Katz (journalist, author): "Die Freiheit der späten Jahre": quotations from her book of the same name
Mag. Geretsegger: "Der Jungbrunnen als ästhetisches Problem" (Depiction of old women in the fine arts), lecture with slides. There are hardly any examples in the history of art of depictions of older women as confident and happy figures.
Fr. Maczek (architects' group Pfiff), Arch. DI Gräsel (consultant on living areas/parks for female senior citizens): "Versorgungsheim, Seniorenwohnpark, Wohnhotel - wie wollen ältere Frauen wohnen?": need for, and demands on appropriate residences: given the lack of suitable housing for older people, such senior citizens' residential areas are the better alternative. In future when buillding apartments, the needs of older people should be considered.
Dr. E. Barolin, Dr. G. Barolin (gynaecologist, psychotherapist): "Bestmöglich alt werden geht auch die Jugend an": a guide for women towards optimising the last phase in life, dealing with the themes of sexuality, relations between the generations, meaningful activities in old age, suicide in old age, depression in old age, responsibility, material security, new relationships, need of care, innovative measure (preparatory seminars on the theme of ageing).
Areas of work of the initiative:
Material aid
Social contacts
Health
Sexuality
Living circumstances
Security/protection
Drawing attention to the fact that ageing is a women's issue.
Success that the initiative has achieved:

Great interest was shown in the event; positive responses not only from the target group, but also from members of other generations.
Problems that the initiative has been faced during its work:
Participation of the target group concerning the conception, planning and implementation of the initiative's work:

Some of the speakers were themselves senior citizens, or had a lot of experience in dealing with older and old people.
Co-operation:
Information:

We are available for people interested in receiving more information on our initiative by phone, post or e-mail.
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Organisational background of the initiative
Staff:

8 salaried employees at the supporting organisation.
10 volunteers/honorary members.
Budget:

400,000.-- Schillings for the said event (organisation, room rental, fees, catering, etc.)
Sources of funding:
Federal funds
Publications or information material available on our initiative:

Folder: "Frauen werden älter" (Women get Older)
Recommended literature:
Tips and suggestions for people interested in foundig a similar initiative:
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2001-04-25