Ageing-in-place in a gentrifying neighbourhood: co-producing knowledge with older adults through community-based filmmaking | Joana Salles (Manchester University)
Gentrification is commonly understood as the process through which a working-class neighbourhood is transformed by the arrival of middle-class residents, changing the area’s character, sociodemographic composition and increasing the cost of living. In recent years, it has gained great interest within academia as well as the media, activist circles and amongst the general public. Yet, the literature on gentrification remains heavily focused on either its positive impact on disinvested neighbourhoods or the resulting displacement of working-class populations. This research explores the impact of gentrification on older populations that wish to age-in-place, especially those living on a low-income and from marginalised communities. Indeed, there is tendency from academia, policy work and the mainstream media to portray older people as affluent home-owners, and therefore not affected by processes of gentrification. This results in the erasure and invisibilisation of part of this age group and their lived experiences. By focussing on how older residents are collectively organising to resist gentrification, I hope to address this and present a more nuanced and accurate representation of the ageing population.
Following from that, this talk will focus on the use of audio-visual and co-production methods in my research project and their limitations. The aim here is to both discuss our role and responsibility to amplify silenced voices as researchers and assess how using these methods can open new avenues in the field of urban ageing as well as having an impact beyond academia.
A lunch will be offered by Cosmopolis. Please register if you want to join! If you are not able to join in person, you can follow the presentation online. Register to receive the meeting link.
Joana is a PhD researcher from the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG), University of Manchester. With a background in Visual Anthropology, she uses co-production and audio-visual methods to explore the role of older adults in the resistance to gentrification in Manchester and Brussels. Her research interests lie in theories of the right to the city, community and citizen-led resistance, place-making and collective identity.