The story of Silverways

The Silverways web-site is part of Patsy (Clarke's) PhD project at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Supervised by Kevin Durrheim of the School of Psychology, the idea of Silverways arose from contact with women who have adopted online technology with no previous exposure to computer technology until they were 'three score and ten'. Looking at how women are 'doing' elderliness in the 21st century, the study collects women's accounts of their experiences with online technology and the impact on social networks. Motivated by a desire to collect stories of the lives and experiences of women from a wireless, letter-writing and typewriter era who then made the transition to digital and online technology, the project includes ongoing online and offline conversations between Patsy and the Silverways women.

The ethos of the web-site is to generate and celebrate proactive narratives of ageing that celebrate the 'elder' in 'elder-ly'. The resources (still to be) linked to the Silverways website are chosen by Patsy and the Silverways women because they reflect their online interests as well as contributing to the extension of their online activities and are in keeping with the project ethos. There will be guides and information on using online services, recreation and hobbies. The web-site design is to be developed so that it can accommodate accessibility guidelines that will make it available via Internet browsers, text screen readers and non-standard and hand-held devices such as cell-phones. This is in line with the goals of the project to be inclusive of those whose access to online technology might otherwise be limited by reduced visual or physical abilities.

For more information OR if you would like to contribute a link to the site or participate in the project - or know of someone else who might, perhaps a friend, a mother, aunt, grandmother or great grandmother - please fill in and submit the short fill-in form or invite them to, or email Patsy at:

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