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Lecture Notes

Our society stereotypes aging as a lonely and depressing time. However, most studies of older adults, relative to younger people, express high levels of satisfaction and well-being.

 

The sexuality of older Americans tends to be invisible, as society discounts their sexuality. Several factors account for this in our culture:

We associate sexuality with young people, assuming that sexual attraction exists only between those with youthful bodies. Interest in sex is considered normal in 25-year-old men, but not for a 75 year old man

 

We associate the idea of romance and love with the young; many of us find it difficult to believe that older adults can fall in love or love intensely.

 

We continue to associate sex with procreation, measuring a woman's femininity by her childbearing and maternal role and a man's masculinity by the children he has.

 

Furthermore, older people do not have sexual desires as strong as those of younger people, and they do not express them as openly. Intimacy is especially valued and important for an older person's well-being.