The dynamic nature of gender and aging bodies

Abstract

To test a popular belief that men and women become more alike with age, we ask whether and how bodily changes that accompany aging might influence the ways that people do gender. Drawing on theories that view both gender and age as ongoing accomplishments, we use interview data gathered from people aged 42-61 years to ask whether masculinity and femininity become less relevant with age, whether people feel themselves to be less gendered. Our analysis shows, first, that respondents see manhood and womanhood as rooted in the appearances of their bodies. Second, they see these gender ideals as based on youthful standards. Third, respondents see masculinity and femininity shifting, for good and for ill with age as bodies change. Fourth, the loss of status with age produces a struggle over the extent to which they can control their bodies. We conclude that, while popular ideals of gender are based on youthful bodies, older persons still see themselves as men and women. Further, these new gender ideals challenge neither gender nor age inequalities.