Essay Example on Sexuality in Aging: Society's Taboo?

Sex, sexuality, and intimacy are sensitive topics. Numerous global communities, traditions, religions, and cultures are reluctant to address the issues about sexuality directly. Sexuality becomes even complex when it combines with the aspect of aging. The thoughts of discussing or imagining sexual conduct and intimacy of the aged sounds odd. Therefore, I have always ignored the thoughts or ideas of sexuality concerning older people. The timid and naïve mindset that society imposes on the young generation bars teenagers from thinking about sex and aging, thereby limiting their understanding of intimacy and sex at old age. However, the film, Still Doing It has been a vital tool in enhancing my mentality and increasing the understanding of intimacy, sex, and sexuality at old age. The reflection paper is a critical examination of the film exploring its significance and how it has impacted my knowledge-base and perception of sex and aging.

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My understanding of sex and aging has been limited to the scientific interpretation of aging in terms of the changes that people encounter at old age. I have been holding on to the belief that at age 50 and above, both men and women experience significant changes in terms of sexual drive. The biological changes that come with menopause, through the hormonal changes in estrogen and testosterone, especially in women, reduce the sexual urge and drive. Older women cannot bear more children after menopause. The primary reasons for sex are pleasure and procreation. Therefore, combining the two, my understanding of sex and aging as incompatible. Previously, before watching the film, I believed that older men and women yearn for more peace of mind and relaxation than sexual pleasure. Nonetheless, it has been a common phenomenon for older men to date and even marries younger women. With this in mind, I have understood that women retire from sex as their age advances while men remain sexually active throughout their lives.

The film has brought me to the realization that the perception and understanding of older women as sexually inactive as they have low sex drive has been incorrect. The film categorically explains the sexuality of the aged using real-life characters who are in the same situation. The older men and women addressing the issue in the film are perfect to offer guidance on the topic as they are directly impacted by sex and age (Fishel, 2003). The openness with which the film addresses the topic is intriguing. It opens the most shuttered and ignored voices within me. Therefore, it relates to and addresses the silent thoughts and ideas buried deep inside. Some of the areas in the film that I believe relates to my thoughts and ideas on sex and aging include the discussions on partnered and single aged women and their sexual perceptions such as straight or gay sexism.

The sexuality of adult individuals is not a common phenomenon in their daily lives. There are many reasons why these aspects remain private and shadowed from the media. First, young people are the most commonly vibrant, energetic, and more excited about sex, sexuality, and intimacy. Therefore, the media and social topics on sexuality revolve around the young generation. Secondly, sex topics revolve around relationships, lifestyles, and procreation. Young people have no or little experience in the topics. As a result, many organizations dealing with anything to do with sex and sexuality focuses on these young people. Additionally, the large population of young people in comparison to the aged makes it economically viable to concentrate on the young generation on topics and stuff to do with sexuality. Third, the societal, communal, or religious perspectives attach a lot of significance and moral standards on sexuality and aging. Therefore, it would be somehow morally incorrect to addresses aging and sexuality openly. Thus, Still Doing It is one of the few works that have been bravely developed to address the topic openly and inclusively. Unlike the film, many social media and mainstream media would shun away from discussing and looking into the issue due to moral concerns. Evidently, one of the nine elderly women in the film quotes religious concerns that term her sexual behaviors as sinful.

Peggy Orenstein’s video and the film, Still Doing It, have numerous close relations. Some of the most common ones being focusing of the most controversial and sensitive discussions of sexuality, advocating for openness when discussing the issues as well as examining the significance of sex and sexuality to the people involved. Orenstein addresses the topic of sexuality and the problems of ignoring and shunning aware of sex discussions with the children, especially girls (Orenstein, 2016). She advocates for the needs of the parents to be free and talk with the girls on the issue of sexuality. Similarly, the film addresses sex and aging and the need for older women to address their feelings freely (Fishel, 2003). The film and Orenstein’s talk both acknowledge the importance of sex in relationships. The women in the film talk about the importance of sex in their lives. Orenstein also encourages parents not only to examine the advantages of sex (Orenstein, 2016).

Conclusion

Still Doing It has several informative pieces. The most important take from the film, however, is the change in attitude relating to sex, sexuality, and aging. Lack of concerns about sex and aging could cause serious problems, especially when one is in a position to be a caregiver of an older woman. An understanding of the sexual drive or urge is the primary solution to many emotional and psychological challenges that elder people undergo. An understanding of sex and aging developed through the film is a vital tool for helping the aged persons.

References

Fishel, D. (2003). Still Doing It [Video]. Kanopy. New Day Films. Retrieved on June 22, 2020, from https://www.kanopy.com/product/still-doing-it

Orenstein, P. (2016). What young women believe about their own sexual pleasure. [Video]. TedWomen. Retrieved on June 22, 2020, from https://www.ted.com/talks/peggy_orenstein_what_young_women_believe_about_their_own_sexual_pleasure?language=en#t-1004841