Tea, Toast and Red Lipstick: Understanding Perceptions of Food, Body Image and Age in Older Women

Though life history methodology, I explore the question: what do the life histories of older women reveal about how lived experience influences perceptions of food, body image and age? The purpose of this research is to develop a deeper understanding of food, body image and age, as it relates to women over 70 years of age; a context infrequently explored in this generation of women and therefore, underrepresented in the literature. It also facilitates a healing process for my personal struggles. In committing to the defining elements of life history research, the stories of Sam and Lina are explored with intentionality, reflexive writing, holistic quality, communicability, aesthetic form and with respect and appreciation for the knowledge life history brings to our broader social context (Cole Knowles, 2001). Themes, such as family relationships, peer influence, life achievements financial stability and the effects of a decline in health are explored.M.A