Unplanned Obsolescence: Key Points (Bartky)

Core Idea

• Aging involves social and cultural losses as much as or more than physical decline.
• For purposes here, old age is defined as beginning at 70; not everyone experiences aging the same way, and some elders remain energetic and productive.

Major Losses in Aging

• Loss of Social and Professional Networks
  • Friends/colleagues die or retire; networks shrink and can disappear.
  • Professional/civic groups may decline in relevance or leadership, e.g., feminist networks; ‘‘polar bears on an ice floe’’ metaphor for loss of status.
  • Examples: Division 44 (psychology of LGBTQ issues) and the Wednesday Club (social network of immigrant women) show how networks form, sustain, and eventually unravel.
• Intellectual, Moral, and Cultural Obsolescence
  • Elder scholars may feel out of step with current trends (e.g., postmodernism) and worry about becoming unread or irrelevant.
  • Wisdom from past generations can be devalued or dismissed as out-dated; aging can be perceived as a failure to keep up.
• Loss of the Significant Other
  • Widowhood and the death of partners cause profound loneliness and skin hunger (the need for physical touch).
  • Examples illustrate shifts from shared life to isolation, though some widows retain or rediscover vitality and social activity.
• Loss of the Admiring Gaze (Appearance)
  • Cultural emphasis on being seen as attractive persists; aging can threaten the sense of being valued for appearance.
  • Some older women seek strategies to attract admiration; others accept invisibility.
• Loss of Opportunity for Sexual Connection
  • Sex and romance are often de-emphasized or deterred by gender ratios, stereotypes about aging sexuality, and internalized beliefs that youth equals desirability.
  • Persisting barriers can dampen sexual expression in later life.

What Is to Be Done? (Strategies to mitigate losses)

• Open and Expand Professional Networks
  • Networks should be inclusive of younger people; criteria for membership must be flexible.
  • Be prepared for change in direction and ensure a pathway of support for younger colleagues; extend mentoring and collaboration beyond one generation.
• Create/Strengthen Social Networks and Support Structures
  • Where networks do not exist, organize small, sustainable groups (support groups, collectives).
  • Retirement arrangements should consider social needs, not just proximity to family; explore alternative living arrangements and communities.
• Rethink Retirement and Living Arrangements
  • Consider new institutional arrangements (retirement communities, communes, or co-housing) that preserve friendship and purpose.
  • For childless individuals, or those seeking autonomy, develop spaces that support independence and companionship.
• Address Intellectual Obsolescence with Balanced Adaptation
  • Pursue lifelong learning; seek guidance when needed rather than pretending to know everything.
  • Stay reasonably informed about developments in areas of interest, but avoid chasing every trend; cultivate a sustainable, selective openness.
  • Recognize that aging researchers may need time to learn new skills (e.g., technology) while leveraging their established expertise.
• Cultivate a Democratic Aesthetics of the Body and Gaze
  • Acknowledge that appearance matters but resist a narrow standard of beauty; foster mutual, inclusive gaze among peers.
  • Some elderly groups create supportive, validating communities that reinforce self-esteem and dignity.
• Reimagine Intimacy in Later Life
  • Acknowledge skin hunger and the desire for closeness; consider non-sexual forms of intimacy as well as potential for sexual connection.
  • Explore possibilities for companionship, flirting, and social/physical closeness that respect boundaries and consent.
• Embrace Wisdom without Nostalgia
  • Some older individuals do become wiser with age; acknowledge growth, but remain open to new ideas.
  • Balance between preserving earned ground and exploring new intellectual or cultural territory.
• Practical Outlook on Aging and Society
  • The task is not to eliminate all losses but to soften their impact through proactive planning, inclusive networks, and adaptable institutions.
  • Encourage communities to imagine innovative living arrangements that support dignity, friendship, and purpose in later life.

Closing Reflection

• Bartky highlights the resilience and ingenuity of aging women who create new forms of visibility and community. The goal is to imagine practical, diverse paths for aging that counteract social isolation and preserve dignity, meaning, and connection in old age.