Research on the Identity Construction of the Disabled Elderly in Rural Areas of China

Abstract

The identity construction is a very important aspect among the problems of the disabled elderly in rural areas of China. Based on the method of case study and theoretical analysis, this research studies the contents and the process of the identity construction of the disabled elderly in rural areas. It suggests that the identity consists of three elements: personal identity, group identity and social identity, and the characteristics of which include the “high recognition on the disability”, the “core construction of the disability”, the “daily expenses orientation” and the “de-certification of the identity construction”. The mechanism of the construction is supported by three different system types: the basic system, the consolidation system and the maintenance system. The results of the construction demonstrate the features of the identity of “triple-weakness” and “muddling along” of the disabled elderly in rural areas.

Keywords

• disabled elderly
• rural areas
• identity construction
• research