Trajectories of Civic Participation Across Borders: Drawing from Life Course Narratives of Older Latine Immigrants.

Abstract

Civic participation has emerged as a way to promote healthy aging, but studies on this topic have understudied the experiences of older migrants. This paper addresses this gap by examining the life course experiences of older Latine immigrants residing in Spain and the U.S. We conducted a narrative analysis guided by an intersectional life course perspective among four older Latine immigrants. Data were drawn from two qualitative life course studies on civic participation among older adults using in-depth interviewing and elicitation techniques. Their stories revealed two structural and systemic conditions influencing experiences of civic participation in later life: (1) the impact of family dynamics and gender on participation before and after immigration, and (2) the cultural and sociopolitical influences on civic participation across geographies. The analysis highlights how structural and systemic forces shape civic experiences across the life course and across borders. This is the first study to examine civic participation across migration trajectories of older Latine adults. Results underscore the need for policies and programs that specifically support older migrants' participation.