Differences in gender roles have traditionally associated women above 60 with home-making and child-care while there is the specific concept of the the `retired man' as the former is `always working'. But a group of women from Mumbai is finally ready to set the record straight. Initiating a discussion titled `Vardhana - The Woman of Age', on the status of women aged over 60, 20 experts will redefine `ageing' at a three-day seminar commencing on March 18, during the International Year of the Elderly.

``How can the problems confrontingwomen over 60 be similar to those of older men when their life experiences have different connotations,'' asks Sonal Shukla, coordinator of Vacha, a women's resource centre set up in 1987. Vacha is coordinating the seminar along with Neera Desai, a pioneer in women's studies.

Says Shukla: ``We have chosen to identify women above 60 as `Women of Age' rather than call them `older or `aged' in the same manner as `women of colour' are stereotyped as `coloured women'.''

Women in this age group are vardhana, fully mature, developed and developing rather than vriddha, which is associated with terms of contempt like buddhi in some Indian languages, though the dictionary meaning refers to both terms as `growth', reads the literature on the seminar, to be held at the YWCA, Andheri (W).

Explains another Vacha member: ``Thus far, whatever little attention has been paid to these issues in India has largely focused on the menopausal aspect of their lives. Their social, economic and emotionalassets have been ignored. For instance, a widow does not get pension from the state if she has an 18-year-old son... it does not matter whether he is a criminal or unemployed. For women from the lower economic strata, it is even worse owing to their illiteracy.''

Also, a woman's physical attributes are usually portrayed as derogatory features like in advertisements, which recommend certain products to `get rid of wrinkles'. They are also not expected to wear bright colours. That would be considered garish and inappropriate for her age.

Differences in perception have also led to `sexploitation', remarks 57-year-old Shukla, who chuckles: ``I am safer from the male gaze now than when I was 30.''

The seminar will analyse every aspect comprising a woman's sexuality and her economic involvement in both the organised and unorganised sectors, her presence in cinema and literature, and the role of spirituality and faith in her life. It will also discuss the dynamics between women in the context of the nuclearfamily and proliferating old age homes. These will be based on interactive experiences.

The experts, who will chalk out plans, strategies and recommendations, say they hope the seminar will set the agenda for government and non-government bodies which shape state policies.

But is traditional Indian society, whose biases against women are closely mirrored in the nitty-gritty of daily life, ready to redefine its perceptions of a widely ignored group of persons? At least a handful of women has taken the initiative.