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Confronting the Material Convoy in Later Life.

Gabriella V Smith1, David J Ekerdt

  • 1Department of Sociology and Gerontology Center, University of Kansas, 1000 Sunnyside Ave, Room 3090, Lawrence, KS 66045, Phone (785) 864-0688; fax (785) 864-2666.

Sociological Inquiry
|August 9, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Elders

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology and Sociology of Consumption
  • Material Culture Studies
  • Life Course Studies

Background:

  • Possessions accumulated over a lifetime, termed the "material convoy," support daily life but can pose challenges in later life.
  • A growing discourse encourages reducing possessions among elders to mitigate these burdens.
  • Existing literature often addresses either family members or elders regarding downsizing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze possession management texts and identify how authors address elders and their families regarding downsizing.
  • To compare the communication strategies and tones used when targeting different audiences.
  • To understand the underlying messages about consumption, legacy, and the narrowing of life in later years.

Main Methods:

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  • Content analysis of 11 possession management texts.
  • Categorization of texts based on target audience: family members or elders.
  • Qualitative analysis of tone, messaging, and themes within each category.

    • Main Results:

    • Texts for family members adopt an urgent, unsentimental tone, focusing on household order and clutter control.
    • Texts for elders use a gentler, more sensitive approach, acknowledging the meaning of possessions and emotional aspects of divestment.
    • Downsizing advice for elders emphasizes responsibility to heirs and legacy management, reflecting a "narrowing of the life world."

    Conclusions:

    • Possession management literature employs distinct rhetorical strategies tailored to elders and their families.
    • The framing of downsizing reflects differing societal expectations and personal experiences related to aging and material accumulation.
    • Understanding these nuanced approaches is crucial for effective communication and support during later life transitions.