Page 18 - IJPS-10-2

International Journal of
Population Studies Australia’s Knitting Nannas lifelong learning

are challenging and that the KNAG CoP provides a you’ll ask them, ‘Well, what do you do when you’re
supportive and inclusive learning environment. This sitting at home watching television, or what do you do
recognition combines the motivational conditions for the when you’re out in the garden?’ They start thinking,
engagement of older learners with the characteristics of and inevitably, they’ll come up with something they
critical feminist geragogy. Respondent S.17 described a can make.”
positive camaraderie as dedication and determination to The existence of a KNAG enculturation process
work together to overcome problems, saying she valued of induction, where people move from novice to full
“how friendly and dedicated they are … the ongoing practitioner, supports Lave & Wenger’s (1991, p. 16)
positiveness, no matter how large the problem.”
concept of “legitimate peripheral participation.”
Nannas have an ethos of inclusivity by identifying and The KNAG CoP utilized the tools of “knitting” and
then drawing on women’s different abilities. This practice being a “Nanna,” along with attention-seeking uniforms
builds connection and motivation in the women as they and the KNAG persona, to stimulate the engagement of
feel validated for their contributions, no matter how passers-by and opportunistically educate them. These
small. Respondent S.61 valued “being able to contribute tools fostered the KNAG’s skill in activating social change,
my creativity to a good cause.” Nanna Joy emphasized the thereby establishing the KNAG CoP ethos of educating
importance to Nannas of finding and utilizing people’s both insiders and outsiders within the movement. It
strengths. She compared this approach with wasting provides a valuable case study in adhering to Hall and
women’s abilities by falling into ageist stereotyping, where Clover’s (2005) definition of SML.
older women are viewed as “wrinkly invisible, useless
drudges, drains on the public purse.” Nanna Joy explained A key feature in the learning culture of the KNAG CoP
her rationale for the KNAG approach to empowering was the emphasis on creativity and humor. Having fun
members: as older learners and enjoying meaningful, purposeful
social interactions was an unanticipated and much-valued
“… you’d sit with six women knitting in, and so you’ve by-product that can be considered to promote well-aging.
got 300 years of experience, and you’ve got graphic
designers and nurses and managers and academics A strong sense of meaningful, active aging was
and people who have brought up a million children. important for many. Respondent S.26 described the knit-in
Yeah, all of these incredible talents are wasted making tactic as “great fun and an effective way” of expressing
cups of tea and pushing petitions under people’s faces. concerns. Respondent S.55 was relieved to find a way of
This is, I guess, one of the strong points of the Nannas: drawing on her extensive life experience post-retirement
to find people’s strengths and to utilize those strengths by engaging in a liberating, collective, and enjoyable
within each loop and then within the larger movement. negotiated learning enterprise within KNAG. For her, the
So some people are very good at organizing. There are determination to overcome limitations to participate in a
some people who are good at public speaking. We purposeful retirement was important, as also was being
make a point of acknowledging each other as valuable able to use her professional skills:
members of society, not as kind of wrinkly invisible, “I’ve always been involved in social justice issues as a
useless drudges, drains on the public purse.” result of being a teacher of adults. It’s helped me come
This KNAG approach is a conscious and intentional to terms with retirement. I have worthwhile causes
strategy that challenges ageist sexism and empowers older and feel passionate about making a difference. Didn’t
women, which is consistent with critical feminist geragogy. think I’d be able to make much of a difference when I
stopped working. Nannas have the time, the passion
Craftivism and the essentialized persona of older and the staying power because their families have
women have become key elements of the Nannas’ identity. grown, and they no longer have work pressures to deal
Identity formation can be understood through both CoP with.”
and social movement theories (Della Porta & Diani, 2006;
Holst, 2018; Snow et al., 2014). The social aspect of feeling welcomed and connected
to other women through being visible and vocal added a
Nanna Evelyn described how craftivism is used by further positive dimension. This sentiment was expressed
KNAG as a form of CoP induction, gently drawing out by Respondent S.54, who stated that what she valued most
women’s individuality and capabilities, which directly link in joining the KNAG was “the spirit of the groups I’ve
with the criteria of critical feminist geragogy: met, openness, creativity, fun, determination, stamina,
“A lot of Nannas that come in and they’re new [say] and caring for one another.” This sentiment harks back
‘Oh, I can’t knit, I can’t do this, I can’t do that.’ And to the instrumental importance of inclusivity. The data

Volume 10 Issue 2 (2024) 12 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.381