Older Women's Perceptions of Great-Grandmotherhood: A Research Note

Abstract

In an exploratory anthropological study nineteen older women gave their perceptions of great-grandmotherhood. They modeled their behavior on their earlier role of grandmother, but advanced age and lack of geographic proximity restricted their ability to carry it out in the same way. They also felt more removed from the fourth generation. Great-grandmotherhood was significant for symbolic and emotional rather than social and instrumental reasons.