Possibilities of Elderly Intelligent Women from Rural Areas to Influence Social Capital

There is a controversial attitude toward elderly people in Lithuania: while respecting their life achievements and good physical condition, a discriminatory approach prevails toward these people that lead to shrinking social realtionships. This paper presents a conceptual challenge to psychological approaches of older people and sociological concept of social capital. It draws on empirical data gathered during a survey conducted with 83 women, rural teachers -pensioners, which seeks to investigate their social and psychological problems, as well as on the breakdown of first-grade pupils by prevailing personality traits (Burvyte, 2011). It argues that rural society can enlarge its social capital with the help of elderly intelligent women: living in rural system they can participate in various activities -take care not only of their grandchildren, but also educating socially neglected children.