Labels and Stereotypes in Sexuality and the aged Gero 410 Jan 2008

Labels The aged are facing several issues which tend to affect both how Society sees them and subsequently how they see themselves. This particularly affects and impacts their self-image as vibrant and active sexual beings. We live in a time of rapid technological and social change. This tends to devalue tradition and not preserve the past. We have a remarkably mobile population which has impacted social and family networks The elderly are often associated with death and dying and we represent the aged as follows: Feeble, absent- minded, stubborn, helpless, unproductive, unsuccessful, pre-occupied with the past, physically unattractive

Labels The general society has a fear and an apprehension about growing old. Therefore the aged themselves are influenced by these views. There are myths and misconceptions about the sexuality in the aged. The aged are often seen as being incapable of sexual desire and performance, physically incapable and handicapped. Subject to declines in their psychological and cognitive functions Stereotyped that there are significant changes in sexual expression and activity as we age and due to limited opportunity and available partners, the aged give up sex.

Case Study You are walking through a park, when you come upon two persons sitting on a bench, kissing, hugging, totally immersed with each other and oblivious to others. You look closer and find they are either (a) Young man and young woman (b) Old man and Old woman (c) Old man and young woman (d) Old woman and young man (e) two women of any age (e) two men of any age Examine your reactions and select the following choices and give your rationale: Good, OK, Sweet, Undignified, Shameful, Perverse, Illegal.

Symbolic interactions If we think of aging as a disease process then sexuality is included in that conception and we focus on those with poor health and disability rather than those who continue to have normal functioning for their age and stage. There continues to be a negative morality about the elderly expressing themselves sexually. Why would they want to continue to have sex when at this age it is merely playful (sinful) and is often outside a marital type relationship. Another myth is that sex and the aged might harm them because of their physical frailty. It is too strenuous, it might cause pain and discomfort, it might cause death.

Myths Old people are isolated and have reduced social networks therefore they are not accessible to sexual opportunity. The elderly who are happy and satisfied with life, in close contact with friends and family, actively connected to a social network, can be active and happy in their sexual lives as anyone else. As we age this is what we strive for and continue to refute the negative myths and stereotypes.