SEXY SENIORS AREN’T GEEZERS: REDRAWING THE BOUNDARIES OF OLD AGE

Abstract

AbstractUsing survey data from the American Perceptions of Aging in the 21st Century, this study explores how the intersection of age and gender influences perceptions of sexuality and old age. Age as a gendered performance informs both the questions in this paper as well as the interpretation of the data in terms of how masculinity and femininity are constructed in later life. This study, looking at 3048 men and women (N=3048) ages 18 – 99, examined how whether or not the belief that old people can be sexy influenced opinions of the age at which a person would be in order to be considered old, controlling for respondent’s age and self reported age category. A multiple regression analysis found that age uniquely intersected with masculinity and perceptions of sexuality to draw boundaries between middle and old age. Significant results showed that men who thought that old people could be sexy tend to perceive old age as occurring chronologically older than men who did not think that old people could be sexy. Thus, men perceive old age as a status that may be staved off so long as a successful performance of youthful sexuality can be maintained.