Ageing with Disability and Family Dynamics: A Social Constructionist Reading of Rohinton Mistrys Family Matter

Title

Ageing with Disability and Family Dynamics: A Social Constructionist Reading of Rohinton Mistrys Family Matter

Creator

Job T, Mary; Thomas, Christine Ann

Description

This article examines how disability and ageing intersect within family structures and cultural expectations, foregrounding the role of ableism and ageism in shaping individual and collective experience. By examining Rohinton Mistrys Family Matters through the frameworks of social constructionism and ageism, the research underscores how age and disability are socially constructed and often associated with dependency and burden. Through the character of Nariman Vakeel, who experiences the dual challenges of old age and physical disability, this article critically examines how disability and ageing shape his health and wellbeing, access to care, and reliance on family and community support. The analysis highlights the ethics of caregiving and family responsibility, encouraging more inclusive and empathetic approaches to ageing and disability across cultural and familial contexts. Mistrys narrative mirrors real-world dynamics of care, responsibility, and economic burden within families. By situating Family Matters within broader discourses on ageing with disability, this article contributes to the growing field of interdisciplinary ageing studies and underscores the value of literature as a cultural text that reflects and critiques social realities. The study emphasises the importance of intergenerational understanding, encouraging families to recognise the emotional and social value of the elderly beyond their physical limitations. Finally, by demonstrating how literature reflects lived realities, the study highlights the role of cultural narratives in shaping more empathetic attitudes towards ageing and disability. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2026.

Source

Journal of Population Ageing;

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media B.V.

Subject

Ableism; Ageism; Disability; Family caregiving; Older care policy; Social constructionism

Coverage

Job T M., Christ University Bengaluru, Banglore, India; Thomas C.A., Christ University Bengaluru, Banglore, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISSN: 18747884;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Article

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-026-09559-3

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105040252613?origin=resultslist