Gender, Ethnicity and Lifelong Learning: Meaning and A Way to Collective Learning of Karen Older People

Abstract

Lifelong learning for older people from ethnic minorities in highland is ignored by research and policy on lifelong learning for elderly in Thai context. This study is a qualitative research and collects data by interviewing Karen older people, in Mae Wang district, Chiang Mai province, both women and men, aged from 60 – 85 years, and focus group discussion. This study aims at exploring the meaning and guidelines of lifelong learning for Karen elderly by taking their perspective and experience into account and considering gender and ethnicity perspectives. The research findings reveal that the meaning of lifelong learning of Karen elderly is focused on collective learning for all sexes and ages with the goals for restoring, transferring and conserving Karen knowledge, which might create their collective ethnic identity. Moreover, the guidelines of lifelong learning link with a cultural concept of learning center of Karen people, mentioned in the traditional poems, which is related to the cultural context and ways of life of Karen elder people. In so doing, lifelong learning might become a condition for promoting the elders’ roles and creating social space of the elders by constructing the meaning of ethnic identity and older people’s identity.