ABOUT BOOK

This chapter draws on the longitudinal ethnographic and demographic ~field study of three communities representing major Indonesian ethnicities ~(Javanese, Sundanese, and Minangkabau), located in three of the five ~provinces that, since 1990, have reported more than 7 per cent of ~the population over the age of 60. Comparative ethnographic study ~supported by panel surveys enables us to establish contexts and variations ~in family and community support for older people, and the advantages ~and disadvantages that may accrue in consequence to older men and ~women. Similar patterns of socio-economic stratification exist in the three ~communities, which have an important bearing on elderly well-being, ~notably by influencing the supply of children, family network size and ~structure, and intergenerational exchanges. Following a brief introduction, ~in which the communities and research methodology are described, the ~chapter notes two contrasting preference structures that differentiate ~gender in the communities. Gender has a marked structural significance ~in matrilineal societies, like the Minangkabau, that is not manifest for ~the Javanese and Sundanese. Case studies then illustrate some aspects of ~these structures. The chapter concludes with a brief look to the future, ~by considering the expectations of current working age generations about ~their own later lives, and the limitations of relying exclusively on aggregate ~data to assess their likely policy needs.