A critical theory for the elderly: the aged body within capitalism and the care home
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Sheffield
Department Name: Politics
Abstract
This research will examine the way in which the aged body, within capitalism and the care
home, experiences oppression. It will be an act of critical theory because it will seek to build
solidarity with, and actively oppose, oppression of a certain social group. The critique of
capitalism that is built within it will be a critique of the life-form that capitalism opposes; a
life-form that allows space for domination and oppression. I will embrace an 'ethnographic
sensibility' that 'can enrich our theorizing by observing how ordinary people discuss' certain
issues and problems (Herzog & Zacka, 2017: 766) in the research of this thesis. Therefore, I
will enter into dialogue with elderly people, in the form of interviews and focus groups, to
ascertain their lived experiences. I acknowledge that this element of my thesis will require
ethics approval
home, experiences oppression. It will be an act of critical theory because it will seek to build
solidarity with, and actively oppose, oppression of a certain social group. The critique of
capitalism that is built within it will be a critique of the life-form that capitalism opposes; a
life-form that allows space for domination and oppression. I will embrace an 'ethnographic
sensibility' that 'can enrich our theorizing by observing how ordinary people discuss' certain
issues and problems (Herzog & Zacka, 2017: 766) in the research of this thesis. Therefore, I
will enter into dialogue with elderly people, in the form of interviews and focus groups, to
ascertain their lived experiences. I acknowledge that this element of my thesis will require
ethics approval
