America is rapidly graying-that’s a well-established fact. In 1900, approximately 4 percent of the U.S. population was over 65. By 2030, it is expected that21 percent of us will fall into this category. So like it or not, the prevailing socio-cultural attitudes toward the elderly will affect every one of us (if we’re fortunate enough to enter our “golden years”).
Ageism is just one form of sexual discrimination. As a society, we have numerous biases that preclude admission into the select “club” of sexual acceptability. To Ask A Question…
Obese couples, those who are grossly incompatible in height, widely discrepant in age (especially if the woman is older although this is shifting a bit), same-sex couples, disabled persons, or even those of visibly different ethnicities, suffer from derisive comments and sexist stereotyping.
So the next time we hear a joke about the toothless old man or the blue-haired woman, maybe we could ask ourselves: What’s really so funny here? How much of this has to do with our own anxiety about aging, and will it be as funny when we’re part of the silver-haired set?
At what age do we stop wanting or needing to experience and express passion-and who gets to decide? When will we wake up and no longer wish to run through a pile of freshly raked leaves, walk barefoot on the beach squishing wet sand between our toes, or share intimately with our partners?
The short answer is hopefully never. May we never deprive ourselves of touch, tenderness and sexual closeness. May we fight confining stereotypes (of all kinds) and refuse to accept the beliefs that rob us of our hard-earned “intimate” retirements. May we express affection freely, as the spirit moves us, without shame or fear of recrimination. And if we stare at the older, yet still in-lust couple, hugging in the popcorn line, may it be out of admiration.