Gossip in sheltered housing: its cultural importance and social implications

The purpose of this paper is to present a descriptive account and analysis of ethnographic research which focuses on gossip as an important social int eraction between older people in sheltered housing. Analysis reveals that g ossip plays a prominent role in the daily life of older people in the schem es studied, reinforcing social norms and values that assume great significa nce in a close-knit, predominantly female environment. Conclusions are draw n that while gossip may serve a useful social purpose in sheltered housing, it may also have important and paradoxical consequences for the individual . In particular, gossip is understood to be a form of interaction that enco urages the individual to strike a balance between their personal and social needs in this communal setting.