ELDERLY WOMAN IN KARELIAN TRADITIONAL CULTURE: AGE BOUNDARIES AND SOCIOCULTURAL STATUS

Abstract

To a larger extend than in case of a man the transition of a woman from one socio-age status to another in traditional culture was connected with her physiological changes. Stages of growing-up and ageing which were similar in many societies were regulated by the means of local tradition. It included complex of rights and obligations, restrictions and opportunities, which were determined by a combination of climatic, socioeconomic, cultural, religious, ethnic and other factors. The focus of the paper is to identify the universal and the ethnically specific traits in the scenarios of women aging in Karelian culture. Research purposes included consideration of issues about the old age limits, the field of female socio- age stratification terminology, the matter of sociocultural status, limitations and opportunities for Karelian women within and outside the family. The study observes the period of the late XIX - early XX century. The territorial framework is outlined by the boundaries of the Karelian population dwelling in the Olonets and Arkhangelsk provinces (the part of the Republic of Karelia in present). The authors conclude that late maturity was an important milestone in the life of Karelian woman. Normative role was growing, hierarchical relations in the family were redefined. However, the life of an elderly woman was not limited to family affairs. Participation in life cycle ceremonies, religious and missionary activities was a symbolic resource of the Karelian women in rural society and could be converted into revenue.