Bodies Tested by the Mountain: Sociological Perspectives on Advanced Old Age in Alpine Environments through the Lens of Gender

Aging beyond 80 years old while living in mountainous regions presents unique challenges, particularly for individuals’ relationships to the territory they live in. This article addresses the following question from a materialist feminist perspective: how do elderly individuals living alone in mountainous areas (re)negotiate their relationship to their bodies, from the perspective of gender hegemony? Drawing on interviews conducted with elderly individuals as part of a research project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), we analyse the interplay between territory and aging bodies, both for men and women. By exploring various dimensions of the daily lives of “old” women and men, the article highlights a gendered differentiation in territorial engagement, revealing forms of subordinate masculinity and protest femininity. Furthermore, it demonstrates that advanced age in mountainous environments tends to blur gender norms, leading to a “virilisation” of women and a “feminisation” of elderly men living alone. Finally, it underscores the importance of considering the experiences of the very elderly in addressing the challenges posed by the demographic transformation of mountainous regions.