Working with Homosexuals of the Older Population

Berger, Raymond M.; Kelly, James

doi:10.1177/104438948606700402

Cited by 42 publications

(25 citation statements)

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“…Such assumptions of associated pathology are problematic and offer limited insight related to the many positive and affirming aging experiences of LGBT adults and other vulnerable communities (Logie et al, 2007;Fredricksen-Goldsen et al, 2010). This is clearly evidenced in earlier literature and research describing positive psychosocial functioning among older gay men and lesbians (Berger, 1984;Gray & Dressel, 1985;Berger & Kelly, 1986), with favorable feelings about aging (Whitford, 1997), appearance (Gray & Dressel, 1985), and sexuality (Pope & Schulz, 1990). Subsequent studies found older gay male and lesbian adults to be no more depressed than their heterosexual counterparts (Dorfman et al, 1995), and a majority of gay and lesbian adults notably rate their mental health as excellent or good (D' Augelli & Grossman, 2001).…”

Section: Health and Mental Health: Underscoring Strengths And Resiliencementioning

confidence: 65%

Examining Cohort Differences and Resilience among the Aging LGBT Community: Implications for Education and Practice among an Expansively Diverse Population

Dentato

Orwat

Spira

et al. 2014

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

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The aging lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community continues to grow considerably while often being faced with unique and unmet needs separate from younger LGBT cohorts or their non-LGBT counterparts. This article explores some of the differences in attitudes among generational cohort groups regarding coming out decisions; sexual risk and safety; the impact of evolving policies within systems and society; as well as the demonstrated strengths and resiliencies of the aging LGBT community. Implications and suggestions for education, training, and best practices among this expansive and diverse population are considered as well as continued research in the field of LGBT aging.

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Section: Health and Mental Health: Underscoring Strengths And Resiliencementioning

confidence: 65%

Examining Cohort Differences and Resilience among the Aging LGBT Community: Implications for Education and Practice among an Expansively Diverse Population

Dentato

Orwat

Spira

et al. 2014

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

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“…The prevailing stereotypes portrayed "old gays" as depressed and undesirable. The early work in the field countered these stereotypes (Berger, 1984;Berger & Kelly, 1986Gray & Dressel, 1985;Quam & Whitford, 1992); through "crisis competence," (Friend, 1980;Kimmel, 1980) and "mastery of crisis" (Berger, 1980), it was hypothesized that the management of a stigmatized identity (e.g., gay) could result in the positive management of another identity (e.g., old age), with sexual minorities better prepared for aging compared to older adults in general (Adelman, 1990;Butler & Hope, 1999;Kehoe, 1986Kehoe, , 1988Sharp, 1997). Following the early research, more studies also began to explore the critical support provided by "families-of-choice" in the lives of older sexual minorities (Adelman, 1990;Beeler, Rawls, Herdt, & Cohler, 1999;de Vries, 2007;Orel, 2004) as well as the need for increased access to formal services and legal protections (Brotman, Ryan, & Cormier, 2003;Cahill & South, 2002;Quam & Whitford, 1992).…”

Section: Gaining a Foothold In Gerontologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Dismantling the Silence: LGBTQ Aging Emerging From the Margins

Fredriksen-Goldsen

2017

GERONT

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Historical, environmental, and cultural contexts intersect with aging, sexuality, and gender across communities and generations. My scholarship investigates health and well-being over the life course across marginalized communities, including LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) midlife and older adults, native communities experiencing cardiovascular risk, and families in China living with HIV, in order to balance the realities of unique lives in contemporary society. By probing the intersection of age, sexuality, and gender, my analysis is informed by both personal and professional experiences. With the death of my partner occurring at a time of profound invisibility and silence before HIV/AIDS, I found my life out of sync, experiencing a loss without a name. My life was thrust into a paradox: My relationship was defined by a world that refused to recognize it. This essay provides an opportunity for me to weave together how such critical turning points in my own life helped shape my approach to gerontology and how gerontology has informed my work and life. Reflecting on this journey, I illustrate the ways in which historical, structural, environmental, psychosocial, and biological factors affect equity, and the health-promoting and adverse pathways to health and well-being across marginalized communities. Although gerontology as a discipline has historically silenced the lives of marginalized older adults, it has much to learn from these communities. The growing and increasingly diverse older adult population provides us with unique opportunities to better understand both cultural variations and shared experiences in aging over the life course.Keywords: Life course, Equity, Gerontology, Sexuality, Gender, History As a gerontologist, my scholarship focuses on understanding life and aging across differing historical, social, and cultural contexts; how marginalization intersects with age, sexuality, and gender; and what approaches are most effective to promote the well-being of people of all ages and cultures. Of the many joys and concerns in the lives of older adults and the field of aging, I ask myself how these priorities, and the dilemmas they present, have surfaced as my primary substantive interests. Over the past 25 years, I have investigated health risk and health-promoting pathways in aging and well-being across diverse communities, for example, working in LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) aging (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Cook-Daniels, et al., 2014;Fredriksen-Goldsen, Emlet, et al., 2013), reducing cardiovascular risk in native communities (Walters et al., 2012), and supporting caregiving of older adults and their families living with HIV in China (Fredriksen-Goldsen, Shiu, et al., 2011;Simoni et al., 2011), a highly stigmatized disease within a global context. This essay provides an opportunity for me to reflect on the turning points in my life and how these have informed my work over time, especially now that I'm old enough to complete my own aging-related survey...

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“…Evidence suggests that coping with 'coming out' and developing an 'affirmative' LGB identity enables individuals to develop strengths and strategies that can be used in later life (Baltes and Baltes, 1990;Berger and Kelly, 1986;Friend, 1991;Kimmel, 1978). Building on this, Dorfman et al (1995) dispute the traditional myth often perpetuated by both social service providers and social scientists (e.g.…”

Section: Cultural Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Power, Inequality and Identification: Exploring Diversity and Intersectionality amongst Older LGB Adults

Cronin

King²

2010

Sociology

134

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Working with Homosexuals of the Older Population

Abstract: Lesbian women and gay men are segments of the older population served by clinical social workers. Issues unique to them include the effects of harmful stereotypes, concealment problems, relationship patterns, and the advantages homosexuals may have in adjusting to aging.

Cited by 42 publications

References 0 publications

Examining Cohort Differences and Resilience among the Aging LGBT Community: Implications for Education and Practice among an Expansively Diverse Population

Examining Cohort Differences and Resilience among the Aging LGBT Community: Implications for Education and Practice among an Expansively Diverse Population

Dismantling the Silence: LGBTQ Aging Emerging From the Margins

Power, Inequality and Identification: Exploring Diversity and Intersectionality amongst Older LGB Adults

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