Ageism and Sexuality
Gewirtz-Meydan, Ateret and Hafford-Letchfield, Trish and Benyamini, Yael and Phelan, Amanda and Jackson, Jeanne and Ayalon, Liat (2018) Ageism and Sexuality. In: Contemporary Perspectives on Ageism. International Perspectives on Aging, 19 (1st). Springer, Switzerland, pp. 149-162. ISBN 9783319738192
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Abstract
Sexuality remains important throughout a person’s life, but sexual behavior does not receive the same levels of acceptance at all ages. Older people are challenged by ageist attitudes and perceptions that hinder their sexual expression. They are stereotyped as non-sexual beings who should not, cannot, and do not want to have sexual relationships. Expressing sexuality or engaging in sexual activity in later life is considered by many in society as immoral or perverted. False expectations for older people also stem from ideals of beauty, centralization of the biomedical perspective on sexuality of older adults, and the association of sex with reproduction. Unfortunately, older people internalize many ageist attitudes towards sexuality in later life and become less interested in sex and less sexually active. The following chapter explores attitudes towards sexuality in later life among the media, young people, older people themselves, and care providers. In order to enable older people to express their sexuality and sexual identity freely and fully, awareness of ageist perceptions must be raised and defeated
Author(s): | Gewirtz-Meydan, Ateret, Hafford-Letchfield, Trish, Benyamini, Yael, Phelan, Amanda, Jackson, Jeanne and Ayalon, Liat | Item type: | Book Section |
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ID code: | 70245 |
Keywords: | ageism, ageing, sexuality, Attitudes, Social Sciences, Social Sciences(all) |
Subjects: | Social Sciences |
Department: | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HaSS) > School of Social Work and Social Policy > Social Work and Social Policy |
Depositing user: | Pure Administrator |
Date deposited: | 24 Oct 2019 08:23 |
Last modified: | 05 Dec 2019 15:25 |
Related URLs: | |
URI: | https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/70245 |
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