The Prudish ageist

When an article in the Straits Times on aging well highlights 3 tips in bold: stay passionate, eat wisely and manage pain, I was expecting to get some ideas on vocations or hobbies which people are passionate about to keep their mind and body active. I was literally shocked when it suggests that older adults can have 'satisfying sex lives even as their bodies change with age', not that it is untrue but more of the inappropriateness in being so direct. I am surprised how blatant it is to even recommend a certain position for the elderly.  I was also laughing that all the old men now have excuses to be promiscuous if their wives' sexual inclinations do not match theirs.

Then I paused and questioned whether I am being prudish. Why do people generally think that old people do not engage in sex or are perceived as 'gross' if they do ? For example I thought it unbelievable that the urologist they interviewed had an 83 year old patient seeking treatment for sexual dysfunction, (perception of age being relative I guess). On deeper thought it occurred to me that it has to do with ageism and society embracing youth. It is assumed that older people should behave in certain ways because of their age and movies seem to imply only physically beautiful young bodies engage in sex. I suppose sexuality in the young is also being focused for procreation purposes traditionally.

Having internalized all these negative stereotypes about aging for years it is no surprise that I can be an ageist even though I am elderly myself.