Middle-aged woman: from being invisible, to being indispensable... a research project to study the participation of this woman in 'meso' level erounisultions.

Of all the woman in Flanders about one out of five belongs to the age group between 50 and 65 years. Among other things, because of their low educational level and the traditional role they used to play while growing up to adults, this group is not represented as should be in the different areas of our social life. However the interaction of demographic and family-sociological influences, this generation of woman represents in many ways what we could call a real 'junction' generation. In this study we will investigate this category of women, and emancipation movements (in casu the communal sanier advisery boards). The quantitative, motivational and intentional parameters of their participation will here be taken into consideration. This choice was made because of the fact that precisely these 'meso' and emancipation associations are accentuating the importance of welfare, healthcare and specific policies for senior citiezens. Because this group of woman is very much involved (either as a person who provides care ar as a person who requires care), it is important that they can watch over their own interests and make sure that they are heard. Based on these findings, a relevant policy and social-agogic implementations will be formulated.