Exploring the Sexuality of African American Older Women.

Luciana Laganá,Cristine E Bruzzone,Theresa White,Daniel E Bruzzone

doi:10.9734/bjmmr/2014/5491

Abstract

AimsTo identify sexually-related themes of the sexuality of older African American women.Study DesignMixed method.Place and Duration of StudyDepartment of Psychology, California State University Northridge, between July 2009 and June 2011.MethodologyWe included 13 African American older women (57 to 82 years of age), 11 of whom self-identified as heterosexual, one as bisexual, and one as lesbian. We used a semi-structured interview protocol through which we explored some aspects of the respondents’ sexuality (assessed at a superficial level, to be as tactful as possible). Moreover, we collected information on demographics and self-rated physical health. Two co-authors served as coders, and used content analysis to identify the most salient sexuality themes.ResultsEmerging themes were (in order from most to least endorsed): having sexual desire (often unfulfilled); engaging in less sexual activity in older age; experiencing changes in one’s sexual life as a function of absence of a spouse; and exercising control over how one’s sexual life is conducted. Motivated by the paucity of our sexuality data, we have also provided suggestions to scholars interested in conducting more in-depth further research on this topic with older African American women.ConclusionOur findings indicate that the common notion that older women are asexual is a myth, while lack of a suitable sexual partner is a problem reported by many African American older women who would otherwise enjoy sexual interaction.

Highlights

There are many erroneous assumptions regarding the sexuality of older adults in general
Our findings indicate that the common notion that older women are asexual is a myth, while lack of a suitable sexual partner is a problem reported by many African American older women who would otherwise enjoy sexual interaction
It is possible that this history contributed to why the older African American women in the present study were very reserved about sharing information concerning their sexuality

Summary

Introduction

There are many erroneous assumptions regarding the sexuality of older adults in general. For a variety of reasons detailed below, we chose African American older women as the units of analysis of the study. Concerning the structure of this article, we have 1) provided a succinct literature review on the topic of sexual health among African American older women, 2) described our mixed method study on this topic, and 3) motivated by the lack (or extreme shortness) of the sexuality responses provided by our research participants, described our methodological challenges and offered potential solutions for interested researchers. Scholars intending to shed more light on this challenging research area will be in the position to choose from a variety of effective methodological strategies that would allow them to collect richer, more in-depth sexuality data on older African American women

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion