Ageing in rural Brazil: a socio-demographic analysis of living conditions among black and white women and men

The aim of this article is to describe and analyse the general social conditions related to race/ethnicity, gender, class and schooling in a sample of 500 subjects (n = 250 men; n = 250 women), aged 60 and over, who are Unified Health System users and resident in the rural area of a medium-sized city in São Paulo state. The methodological design was qualitative, grouping techniques to describe and analyse the selected categories intersectionally, making a sociological and critical analysis about old age in a rural context. For the data collection, we used a structured questionnaire with closed-ended questions concerning socio-demographic aspects. Using the IBM-SPSS Software (version 20.0), a database was produced with descriptive and specific information about the sample. The results corroborated different socio-demographic indicators between men and women, having significant distinctions for schooling and income to the detriment of the racial/ethnic profile of both groups. The conclusions attest profound social differences in the ageing process and old age in a rural context, radicalizing – unequally – from aspects related to “gender” and “race/ethnicity”.