This book challenges prevailing negative representations of aging men, which often revolve around a vision of inevitable decline due to retirement from the labour market. It offers an in-depth exploration of their lived, embodied experiences that takes advantage of extended interviews and commentaries. The diversity of aging men's experiences are investigated and include: different levels of physical competence; coming to terms with Parkinson's disease; the sexual practices of heterosexual and homosexual aging men; the caring strategies of aging male caregivers looking after their chronically ill partners, and; the survival strategies of ethnically diverse and working class men.
Exploring Aging Masculinities reveals that the aging process can provoke changes in the masculine identities of older men. The loss of social power and status, physical capacity and sexual potency in some aging men often leads to critical reassessment, life review and transitions. This book will be of great interest to those working in the sociology of aging and social policy, as well as professionals working with older men.
Exploring Aging Masculinities reveals that the aging process can provoke changes in the masculine identities of older men. The loss of social power and status, physical capacity and sexual potency in some aging men often leads to critical reassessment, life review and transitions. This book will be of great interest to those working in the sociology of aging and social policy, as well as professionals working with older men.
"[This] book disrupts thinking and practice on men and masculinities, on age, class, gender and sexuality, and is important for policy and politics, for carers, professionals, and of course older people themselves and ourselves." - Jeff Hearn, Professor, Hanken School of Economics, Helsinki, Finland; Örebro University, Sweden, and; University of Huddersfield, UK