‘Comfortable in my own skin’: A new form of sexual freedom for ageing baby boomers

Rowntree, Margaret R.

doi:10.1016/j.jaging.2014.09.006

Cited by 32 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This research builds upon a previous project conducted by one of the authors that explored the current sexual experiences of baby boomers, and found a strong trend within this cohort of men and women towards feeling more confident and comfortable with expressing their sexuality as they age (Rowntree, 2014). The baby boomers in the first study expressed concerns about the capacity of aged care services, particularly residential, to recognize their expectations about sexual expression (Rowntree, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

“…The baby boomers in the first study expressed concerns about the capacity of aged care services, particularly residential, to recognize their expectations about sexual expression (Rowntree, 2014). These fears about erosion in sexual autonomy appear well-founded given that previous studies have found that sexual expression in aged care facilities remains invisible and problematic (Frankowski & Clark, 2009), negative attitudes exist by staff towards residents' sexual expression (Bouman, Arcelus, & Benbow, 2007;Gilmer et al, 2010), education is still required to improve staff attitudes and beliefs (Bauer, McAuliffe, Nay, & Chenco, 2012;Shuttleworth, Russell, Weerakoon, & Dune, 2010;Walker & Harrington, 2002), including training in sexual diversity and hetero-normativity (Tolley & Ranzijn, 2006) and other institutional barriers exist, such as lack of privacy (Gilmer et al, 2010), and lack of information and policies (Bauer, Nay, & McAuliffe, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Need or right: Sexual expression and intimacy in aged care

Rowntree

Zufferey

2015

Journal of Aging Studies

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This paper explores how the residential aged care sector could engage with residents' sexual expression and intimacy. It is informed by a study of 19 aged care staff members and 23 community members, and initially designed on the principles of Appreciative Inquiry methodology. The data were collected through focus groups and interviews and analyzed using discourse analysis. We found that staff members mainly conceptualize sexual expression as a need to be met, while community members (current and prospective residents) understand it as a right to be exercised. We conclude that the way in which sexual expression is conceptualized has critical implications for the sector's engagement with this topic. A 'needs' discourse informs policies, procedures and practices that enable staff to meet residents' needs, while a 'rights' discourse shapes policies, practices and physical designs that improve residents' privacy and autonomy, shifting the balance of power towards them. The former approach fits with a nursing home medical model of care, and the latter with a social model of service provision and consumption.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 77%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Need or right: Sexual expression and intimacy in aged care

Rowntree

Zufferey

2015

Journal of Aging Studies

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“…These responses were explained by the cultural and societal atmospheres in which older people were raised. However, although older people were raised by parents who lived by conservative sexual norms (Ayalon et al, 2018), it should be acknowledged that many of the older adults today (baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964) in fact reached sexual maturity during the time of the sexual revolution and the feminist movement, which are characterised by increased openness towards sexual expression (Bradway & Beard, 2015;Rowntree, 2014;Vares, Potts, Gavey, & Grace, 2007). Moreover, current trends in society define heterosexual intercourse as the gold standard of sex and set high standards of beauty which are fuelled by the media (Gewirtz-Meydan & Ayalon, 2018;Hurd Clarke, Bennett, & Liu, 2014;Montemurro & Chewning, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Shades of Grey”: Exploring Public Opinion about Later-Life Sexuality

Gewirtz‐Meydan

Ayalon

2020

Can. J. Aging

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Public opinion on later-life sexuality affects older people’s sexual health, behaviour, and satisfaction. In this study, we explored public opinion on later-life sexuality by participants’ responding to an open-ended question rather than rank their level of agreement or disagreement with different statements about older people’s sexuality. Responses from 135 men and women reflecting on how sexuality changes in older age were thematically analysed. Five themes emerged, varying from positive to negative perceptions of later-life sexuality. Older people’s sexuality was described as declining, non-existent, conservative, narrow, tedious, and boring, but also as encompassing more emotions and feelings; being better and more “complete”. This study provides qualitative data and an opportunity to gain insights on valuable opinions on what young and middle-aged people think about later-life sexuality. Assessing what people think about later-life sexuality is the first stage in instilling more liberating views about the diversity of sexual expressions in old age.

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“…Much of recent research into sexuality and ageing has been informed by this understanding that these older people will bring more liberated attitudes to their negotiation of sexuality and sexual relationships as they age, including being open to different types of relationships and sexual practices and having experience with more partners (Arber and Ginn, 1991b;Calasanti and Slevin, 2001b;Minichiello et al, 2005;Rowntree, 2014Rowntree, , 2015. However there is little empirical research addressing the influence of women's diverse sexual pasts, and of current ways of thinking about sexuality and ageing, on their later-life sexual subjectivities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tensions and contradictions: Women’s stories of ageing and sexuality in the context of the past

Thorpe

2018

Sexualities

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This article explores older Australian women’s sexual subjectivities in the context of cultural expectations of generational change in later-life sexual practices. Drawing upon interview and journal data from 28 women aged 55 to 81, it considers diverse recollections of their sexual pasts and their current subjective expectations of sex and intimacy in old age. These data suggest that these ‘post liberation’ women’s understandings of their sexual lives were shaped by a rejection of asexual old age, while simultaneously relying upon traditional gendered and heteronormative notions of sexual practice and desire. Applying a critical gerontological lens to these data, this article demonstrates the presence of obstacles in the sometimes over-simplified and linear interpretations of generational change.

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‘Comfortable in my own skin’: A new form of sexual freedom for ageing baby boomers

Cited by 32 publications

References 23 publications

Need or right: Sexual expression and intimacy in aged care

Need or right: Sexual expression and intimacy in aged care

“Shades of Grey”: Exploring Public Opinion about Later-Life Sexuality

Tensions and contradictions: Women’s stories of ageing and sexuality in the context of the past

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