Social Representations of the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Look at Elderly Brazilian and Spanish Women

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the social representations of the COVID-19 pandemic for elderly women in Brazil and Spain, in order to understand how they perceive this context. Theoretical Framework: The emergence of the SARS-COV-2 virus has resulted in a global pandemic, with high levels of contagion, rapid spread and too many deaths. Simultaneously with the phenomenon of population ageing is the process of the feminization of old age, which shows that women are ageing more than elderly men. Method: The sample included 102 participants. The Brazilian women were aged between 60 and 86 (M= 69.2 and SD= 6.43), while the Spanish women scored between 60 and 92 (M= 66.3 and SD= 6.94). Two instruments were used to collect the data: (1) a sociodemographic questionnaire and (2) a semi-structured interview. Results and Discussion: The results point to the impacts and conceptions of the participants in the face of the disease; they infer how their mental health has been affected, bringing some complications and reverberations in all areas of life; and it can be seen that these elderly women cultivate a look of hope for more prosperous days in the face of post-covid-19 events. Research Implications: It is hoped that this article will help spread scientifically proven information that can reach different areas to help mitigate the impacts that have been revealed through the eyes of this older woman. Originality/Value: This study contributes to a cross-cultural understanding of the pandemic in light of variables such as gender.