As societies around the world continue to adapt to the realities of an ageing population, there is greater need to understand how different groups experience ageing differently and how such differences can impede progress toward the promotion of successful and productive ageing. This session examines how gender, health, and ageing intersect within various international contexts and policy environments. It also incorporates perspectives related to the four conference themes, covering development, physical and mental health, inequalities related to gender and sexuality, and ageism.

The session will start with Erica Dhar, Director of Global Alliances at AARP and co-chair of the UN Stakeholder Group on Ageing, who will share findings of the 2018 UN Women Flagship report on gender equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a focus on older women. Briony Dow, from the National Ageing Research Institute at the University of Melbourne, Australia, will then discuss insights from research looking at older men and factors related to suicide. Arne Stinchcombe, from Saint Paul University and the University of Ottawa, will present data on physical and mental health inequalities among older LGBT Canadians. The final presentation, by Brian Beach from ILC-UK, will highlight research around breast cancer care in Europe and the potential for ageism in different parts of the care pathway.