Who's Afraid of Growing Old?

@article{Schope2005WhosAO,
  title={Who's Afraid of Growing Old?},
  author={Robert D. Schope},
  journal={Journal of Gerontological Social Work},
  year={2005},
  volume={45},
  pages={23 - 39}
}
  • Robert D. Schope
  • Published 26 September 2005
  • Sociology
  • Journal of Gerontological Social Work
Abstract This article is a study of how gay men and lesbian individuals perceive the aging process. The findings indicate that gay men have more negative views of how gay society views growing older and how they view their own growing older than do lesbian respondents. Gay men were also found to be more ageist, have a greater fear of negative evaluation by others, and give more importance to their own physical attractiveness. Implications for social work practice with elder homosexuals are… 
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68 Citations

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The results indicated that older lesbians have experienced fluidity in past romantic and sexual relationships, as well as in erotic fantasies, despite strong identification with being lesbian.
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