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KMID : 0379220200400061173
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Journal of Korea Gerontological Society
2020 Volume.40 No. 6 p.1173 ~ p.1204
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A qualitative study on exploring the life of waste picking older adults using social capital theory
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Kim Yu-Jin
Yoo Tae-Han
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Abstract
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The purpose of this study is to explore the life of waste picking older adults by utilizing the social capital theory developed by Bourdieu, Coleman, and Putnam. Using qualitative research methods, we studied the background of older adults who have made money by picking up waste resources, their experiences in picking up waste resources, and their continued doing it despite of various difficulties.
Interviews with 16 elderly and nine people around them, including junk shop officials and social workers, and data from participatory observation were analyzed using the thematic analysis method. The results are presented as follows. First, the life of older adults who pick up waste resources can be examined in six types, depending on when to enter the world of waste resources-picking up and the purpose of the activity, and the way the elderly interact with the environments in the process of collecting, managing, and selling waste resources. Second, although the background of waste resource collection and the appearance of social capital working are slightly different, making money by picking up waste resources is reasonable choices according to their circumstances. Third, older adults interact with the world with long-lived neighbors of similar circumstances who know the situation intimately, and the world that threatens and ignores the ‘old man who is picking up’,giving meaning to activities of picking up waste resources, and further giving meaning to their own lives. Fourth, despite various difficulties such as low income compared to time and labor, negative societal attitudes toward them, and poor health, the activities of picking up waste resources continues because they have become an expression of their familiar lifestyle, a way to participate in society, and a way to communicate with the world. Based on the results of this study and related discussions, we suggested a few ways of improving the quality of life and expanding social capital for older adult street waste pickers.
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KEYWORD
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waste picking older adults, social capital, ‘sensitizing concepts’, qualitative research
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