Last Lovers by William Wharton in the opinions of seniors

• Main Author: Magda Wieteska
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Foundation Pro Scientia Publica 2016-06-01
• Series: Journal of Education Culture and Society
• Subjects: late adulthood; old age; seniors; William Wharton; novel; femininity; University of the Third Age; stigma; stereotyping; sexuality; erotica; sex
• Online Access: http://www.ojs.jecs.pl/index.php/jecs/article/view/10.15503jecs20161.64.72/pdf

The issues of old age, once neglected in terms of reflection and research on this period of life, in recent years took on another dimension. With the growth of the elderly population in the world, gradually more attention is paid to issues related to improving the quality of life of seniors. Of particular interest are those aspects of life that have a direct impact on the sense of well-being of the elderly, namely: family, health, finances. The aspect of health is however considered mostly in the context of an overall psychophysical fitness, access to health care, adequate pensions enabling the purchase of medicines, rehabilitation, etc. In contrast, they less frequently deal with issues related to sexual attractiveness of the seniors and their erotic needs. Old age still does not go hand in hand with the sexual appeal. Elderly women are seen as unnecessary, invisible. They are not perceived as being able to evoke sexual desire. This social reception affects the senior women’s perception of themselves. In the eyes of a community an elderly woman may still be attractive intellectually, but not physically. Stereotypes built around the old age also assume that people in late adulthood have no sexual needs.