Reentry Women Students Who Are Seniors

The topic was chosen because the researcher is a member of the senior population and as baby boomers retire,this group is becoming the fastest growing population in Canada.Their numbers are expected to increase until the year 2026 when the highest point of the baby boom is attained,or even to 2041 when one-quarter of Canada's population is predicted to be 65 years of age.University student populations will become more diverse.There will be greater numbers of older women in this population because women live longer than men and some have delayed their education or want further opportunities.They will be a potential source of power because of numbers and improved wealth. Until now,there have been few reentry women students who are seniors in academia and studies about them are rare in research literature;their voices are silent at a formal level.The purpose of this research was to learn more about the experiences of this group,to understand better the situation of such marginalized students,and to realize how an academic environment can be more inclusive for this subpopulation.