Prominent figures of high society gathered at the invitation for the launch of the new book ARE WE OLD? by Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay and Psychologist Handan Dedehayır, held at the Elgiz Museum.
A panel was also held during the event with the participation of Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay, Psychologist Handan Dedehayır, Lale Aytaman, Pelin Bozkurt Bilgiç, Sema Eren, and Nazan Moroğlu.
At the event, organized by Azizoğlu Public Relations, Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay and Psychologist Handan Dedehayır mingled with their guests individually and provided information about the book’s content.
Guests enjoyed a pleasant time in a delightful atmosphere accompanied by delicious treats, both having a nice time and getting acquainted with the new book.
A Multidimensional Journey on Aging
In their new book, Are We Old?, Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay and Psychologist Handan Dedehayır address the phenomenon of aging from both scientific and cultural dimensions, inviting readers on a comprehensive and inspiring journey.
The book presents a comprehensive framework on changing perceptions of aging, the aging cultures of different societies, the life practices of super-agers, and the representation of aging in literature, shedding light on this increasingly important topic in today’s world.
The World is Aging, Roles are Changing
Since the last quarter of the 20th century, the world’s population has been rapidly aging. This change is not only a demographic transformation but also brings about a major shift in the roles, status, and lifestyles of the elderly within society. While a segment of the elderly, who held a respectable position with their wisdom in the past, have had to withdraw from active life and seek refuge in loneliness with modernization; a significant group of elderly are increasingly pioneering a more vigorous, active, productive, and well-groomed old age. Old age is no longer defined as a period of withdrawal; it is being redefined as a stage of new discoveries, production, and transformation.
The First Part of the Book: The Changing Position of Old Age – Handan Dedehayır
In the first part of the book, which she authored, Psychologist Handan Dedehayır addresses old age with the current data from psychology, sociology, and health sciences. In this section, changing values, roles, perceptions regarding old age, the main determinants of a healthy and long life, the relationship between personality structure and longevity, the contribution of strong social relationships to well-being, and transformations in the emotional and social relationships of the elderly are examined in the light of scientific research. Psychologist Handan Dedehayır emphasizes that old age is not only a period of losses but also one containing new gains and meanings.
The Second Part of the Book: Old Age in the World of Thought and Literature from Past to Present – Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay
In the second part of the book, which she authored, Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay examines the old-age themed works of 44 distinguished authors from the world of literature and thought. In this aspect, the book also carries the quality of an original anthology. A broad literary selection, ranging from Cicero to Simone de Beauvoir, Kingsley Amis to Alec Guinness, Joseph Heller to Joan Didion, Julian Barnes to Nora Ephron, Hanif Kureishi to Kazuo Ishiguro, Italo Svevo to Salâh Birsel, and many more writers, reveals the cultural and intellectual dimension of old age. These analyses are accompanied by the perspectives of leading figures in their fields such as therapist Marie de Hennezel, economist Arthur C. Brooks, Blue Zones researcher, journalist Dan Buettner, surgeon, author, and public health researcher Atul Gawande, longevity and preventive medicine specialist Dr. Peter Attia, psychologist Prof. Bekir Onur, and French historian Philippe Ariès.
Turkey’s Pride: Super-Agers
Are We Old? is not just a theoretical study; it offers different perspectives across a broad spectrum, from examples from different cultures of the world, today’s “super-ager” models, to remarkable examples of active aging from athletes to the fashion world, and extending to Turkey’s leading elderly figures. It proudly features the world’s longest-living elderly, super-aged models who do not hesitate to proudly take their place on the runways of famous fashion houses, young elderly breaking records in sports, and our country’s distinguished and active elderly. The inspiring successful life stories of Özden Toker, who wrote the foreword to the book, the recently deceased Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, Nermin Abadan Unat, Semahat Sevim Arsel, Nurhan Atasoy, Adli Okuş, and Seha Okuş are also conveyed through interviews and colorful anecdotes.
The Aging Experience of 24 People: Survey Section
The final section of the book includes a survey study in which 24 people, aged between 70 and 92, describe their experiences of old age. The sincere answers in this section open a strong window into the individual aspect of aging.
In the “Final Word” section of their book Are We Old?, Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay and Psychologist Handan Dedehayır summarize their purpose in preparing the book with these words:
“In this study, where we aimed to address old age and aging in its various dimensions from a broad perspective; we wanted to share thoughts, views, and interpretations about old age with examples from the research of scientists from around the world and our country, and from the works, observations, and impressions of renowned authors. As we observed the belief and resistance shown by distinguished elderly in sustaining their active lives in our world where the years of old age are increasingly lengthening; our desire for this work to be a gift to each one of them and to be an example to younger generations grew stronger day by day.”
ABOUT PROF. DR. GÖNÜL BAKAY:
After studying at Istanbul Robert College, Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay, who continued her education externally at the University of London, received her PhD from Istanbul University, Faculty of Letters with her thesis on “Women in the 18th Century Novel”. She currently teaches English literature at Bahçeşehir University, Department of American Language and Literature in Istanbul, where she has been for 11 years. Her research topics include the English novel from the 18th century to the present, ethnic literature, the gothic novel, and women’s studies. Her published books in Turkish and English include: Virginia Woolf ve İletişim, Günümüz Türk Kadın Başarı Öyküleri (translated into English), Kadın ve Mekân (translated into English), Atatürk’ü Yaşayanlar (published in English as Memorable Encounters with Atatürk), Simone de Beauvoir: Yaşamı, Felsefesi, Eserleri (translated into French and republished by Bahçeşehir University in 2025). Also among her books published in English are Trading Women, Traded Women; William Godwin, Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Shelley and their Offspring Frankenstein; Delirtilen Kadınlar (published abroad as Women Driven Mad by Peter Lang Publishing); Dünyada Tuhaf Evlilik Gelenekleri ve Türkiye’de İlginç Evlilik Gelenekleri (published in English by Mellen Press in 2024) and Ottoman-English Relations in the 18th Century. She also has numerous articles published domestically and internationally.
ABOUT PSYCHOLOGIST HANDAN DEDEHAYIR:
After graduating from Robert College, Handan Dedehayır completed her studies at Istanbul University, Department of Psychology. Following her translation, compilation, and review articles published in various newspapers and magazines, she worked as a copywriter in leading advertising agencies of the time, focusing on the purchasing motivations of different consumer groups. She then continued her professional life as the General Coordinator at ÇEKÜL Foundation, one of the leading non-governmental organizations aiming to protect the country’s environmental and cultural values. She managed the Research and Development Department at Baltaş Training and Consulting; prepared various training programs and publications in the fields of adult education and human resources, and served as the editor-in-chief of the quarterly published Kaynak magazine. Subsequently, she returned to ÇEKÜL Foundation, working as a coordinator responsible for publications and corporate communication in the field of natural and historical cultural heritage. She served as the managing editor of the Union of Historical Cities’ magazine Geçmişten Geleceğe Yerel Kimlik. She edited the books Simone de Beauvoir: Yaşamı, Felsefesi, Eserleri; Atatürk’ü Yaşayanlar; Günümüz Türk Kadınlarından Başarı Öyküleri; Dünyada Tuhaf Evlilik Gelenekleri; Kadın ve Mekân; Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Women and Space in Turkey; Delirtilen Kadınlar: Women Driven Mad. In 2025, she co-authored the book Are We Old? with Prof. Dr. Gönül Bakay, writing the first part titled “The Changing Position of Old Age” and undertaking the editorship of the book.
