Aspiring from the Margins: Ageing, Care, and Borders among the East Timorese in West Timor

As global ageing becomes more prevalent, it is crucial to recognise the diversity in people's ageing experiences and the influence of their respective social, cultural, and political environments. While discussions about ageing often revolve around health and care for older populations, aspirations in later life tend to receive less attention. Aspirations are typically associated with younger, more mobile generations, as they are seen as the primary shapers of the future. In this presentation, I have two primary objectives. First, I aim to introduce the recently published edited volume, “Aspiring in Later Life: Movements across Time, Space, and Generations” (Eds. Amrith, Sakti, Sampaio, 2023), which compiles rich ethnographic cases from various parts of the world on this subject. Second, I intend to anchor our discussions in my extensive research on the experiences of ageing and displacement among the East Timorese in West Timor, Indonesia. I will explore the aspirations of older East Timorese concerning intergenerational care, cross-border mobility, and their visions for the future within marginalised societal positions. During the presentation, we will delve into how people cope with family separation and life in exile, as well as the negotiation of personal desires in later life, often conflicting with familial, social, and cultural expectations. Furthermore, we will explore the inequalities and gendered dimensions of ageing within the context of displacement and the East Timorese community.