The “No Place” of the elderly person: a criticism to Modernity

Rodrigo Bordin, Maria de Lourdes Bernartt, Danielle Bordin, Juliana Mara Nespolo, Suelyn Maria Longhi de Oliveira, Haydee Padilla, Claudineia Lucion Savi, Guilherme Mocelin, Marcia Antunes da Rocha

Modernity. Aging. Elderly.

In addition to providing longevity, Modernity brought the imposition of productivity and socialization standards. The present study aimed at thinking about the reflexes of Modernity/Coloniality to human aging. It was carried out an exploratory research with a literature review. Conceptual aspects and issues arising from the Modernity/Coloniality crisis were addressed, which indicates a homogenizing epistemology; dilemma about the (non) place of the elderly; and concepts of Transmodernity and decolonial thinking. It was evident that the elderly person is neglected, being seen as a stigmatized subject and prone to suffer from loneliness and rejection, considered useless to productivist mechanisms, which leads to occupy a non-place in society. It is concluded that it is necessary to think and act in the light of Transmodenity and Decoliality, so that a pluriverse look at aging can be glimpsed in order to break with the reflections of Modernity/Coloniality and it emerges the attention to the formulation, implementation and evaluation of concrete actions that enable the exercise of citizenship for the elderly.

Received: 24 Oct 2022, Received in revised form: 10 Nov 2022, Accepted: 15 Nov 2022, Available online: 21 Nov 2022

10.22161/ijaers.911.36