Conceptualization of gendered energy ageism

The global transition towards low-carbon energy systems is a fundamental imperative of the twenty-first century, yet it risks deepening existing social inequalities if not managed equitably. While energy poverty and vulnerability have been extensively studied, the intersection of gender and age remains a critical blind spot in energy research and policy. This paper addresses this gap by conceptualizing "gendered energy ageism"—a novel framework that captures the unique structural and social discrimination faced by older women in energy access, affordability, and participation. Employing a theoretical analysis grounded in feminist intersectionality theory and the energy justice framework, the study delineates the economic, technological, policy, and social dimensions of this phenomenon. The proposed conceptual framework illustrates how demographic aging, gender wage gaps, and the digitalization of energy systems act as structural drivers that, through mechanisms of policy neglect and technological exclusion, produce disproportionate energy poverty and marginalization for older women. The paper concludes by outlining significant implications for energy and social policies, advocating for aging-inclusive and gender-sensitive transition strategies, and proposing a future research agenda to empirically measure and address gendered energy ageism.