Distributed age(ing): Features of a material gerontology

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Aging
• Material Culture Studies

Background:

• Traditional gerontology often overlooks the role of non-human materiality and agency in the aging process.
• Existing approaches tend to be human-centered, limiting a comprehensive understanding of aging.
• There is a need to incorporate material diversity and relationality into the study of aging.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop features of a material gerontology by introducing the concept of "distributed age(ing)."
• To critique the human-centeredness of current gerontological approaches.
• To propose shifts in perspective for a more inclusive and material understanding of aging.

Main Methods:

• Critique of human-centered gerontological approaches.
• Inspiration from actor-network theory to reframe aging.
• Conceptual development of "distributed age(ing)" using breathing as an example.

Main Results:

• Introduces "distributed age(ing)" where aging is co-constituted by human/non-human materialities, meanings, roles, and identities.
• Advocates for shifts from human-centeredness to material diversity, dualism to material symmetrisation, and linearity to plural temporalities of aging.
• Demonstrates how "distributed age(ing)" generates new insights into how, where, and when aging occurs.

Conclusions:

• The concept of "distributed age(ing)" offers a novel framework for understanding aging as a materially diverse and relational process.
• This material gerontology challenges assumptions and reductions in social and cultural gerontology.
• Recognizing non-human agency and materialities enriches the study of aging across its multiple dimensions.