A Grounded Theory Study on the Work Experiences of Older Korean Women in Social Service-Type Senior Employment

Background and Purpose: Korea's rapidly aging society highlights a significant increase in older women, leading to a pronounced "feminization of old age." Older Korean women have historically faced discrimination and exclusion within a patriarchal social structure, experiencing career disruptions and multiple caregiving roles, resulting in cumulative inequalities that amplify during later life. These factors contribute to economic hardship, isolation, illness, and poverty. Despite these challenges, older women show active efforts to overcome adversity, reflected by the increasing rate of older women wishing to participate in the labor market, driven by economic and psychosocial needs. However, they encounter severe barriers, such as ageism, absence of social security, gender discrimination, low pay, and frequent job turnover. Consequently, many older women seek more equitable employment in social service-type senior jobs protected by elderly welfare laws. This study investigates older Korean women's employment experiences in this specific context to develop a comprehensive theoretical understanding of their challenges, coping mechanisms, and outcomes.

Methods: Using Strauss and Corbin’s (1998) grounded theory, data were collected through in-depth interviews with 22 older women (60+ years) employed over six months in social service-type jobs. Participants were purposefully sampled, and data underwent open, axial, and selective coding using constant comparative analysis. The Yonsei University Institutional Review Board approved this study (IRB No: 7001988-202406-HR-2295-02).

Findings: Analysis identified 105 concepts, organized into 43 subcategories and 18 categories through axial coding. The central phenomenon was "awkwardness in jobs reached after drifting." Causal conditions included desires for societal role maintenance, economic necessity, and psychological stability. Contextual factors amplifying this included systematic labor market exclusion and proactive job-seeking behaviors.

Intervening conditions shaping strategies were peer relationships, interactions with clients and community, attitudes from employers, organizational support, family support, and workplace gender inequality. Coping strategies involved empathetic and proactive engagement, cautious acceptance of reality, or internalizing frustrations.

Outcomes included unexpected satisfaction, moderate compromise, or persistent dissatisfaction. Four experience stages emerged: job-seeking and entry, confronting unfamiliarity, realistic adjustment, and reflective decision-making. Four experience types identified were: "active achievement pursuit," "conformity-compromise," "hesitant-reflective," and "multi-faceted adjustment."

Conclusion and Implications: The study emphasizes psychological awkwardness in older women's employment, highlighting emotional labor and gender discrimination. Recommendations include supportive psycho-social interventions to foster resilience, post-traumatic growth, and self-acceptance. Suggested interventions span individual, family, community, and national levels, advocating systematic training, organizational support, improved workplace safety, job development, and societal awareness. This research enriches theoretical insights and informs targeted policies and practices for older women's employment.