Acknowledging sexual bereavement: a path out of disenfranchised grief

Dating Behaviors of Older Black Women

The complexities of older Black women's dating behaviors and preferences were uncovered in this phenomenology study with 14 older Black single and/or widowed women. The participants recognized that, as older Black women, their sexuality did not simply pertain to whether they were dating, it encompassed various factors that influenced their decisions about whether to date. These factors were categorized into three major themes: pursuing intimacy, dating preferences, and barriers to dating. The adoption of the Black feminist standpoint theory helped to understand their dating experiences in the context of the participants' Blackness. The women's subjective experiences with dating and the challenges that they face as older Black women demonstrated the complexities and intersections of race, gender, class, and age within this contextual analysis. These findings hold important practical implications for understanding the influence of the older women's Blackness on their experiences and how it shapes their dating behavior. These understandings will help social workers and gerontologists better appreciate and validate older Black women's self-determination in their dating choices and the need to support them.

‘Why would I want sex now?’ A qualitative study on older women's affirmative narratives on sexual inactivity in later life

The existing research tries to understand the reasons for discontinuing sex in later life with the assumption that people want to be sexual. Although the growing body of literature informs that sex remains an integral part of older adults’ lives, a substantial number of older adults declare not being sexually active. This study aimed at exploring motives for deliberately choosing sexual inactivity among older women. Semi-structured interviews with 16 Polish women (aged 65–82) were thematically analysed in relation to the sexual scripts theory and the participants’ specific socio-cultural background. Three main themes regarding the reasons for cessation of their sex life were identified: ‘I am glad that sex does not concern me anymore’, ‘I am satisfied with my memories’ and ‘The right one’ or no one. The results indicate that some women give up sex for good, with no regrets or feeling of a loss; for others, it may be a temporary decision, its duration dependent on meeting the right partner. Developing sexual agency may encourage discontinuing their sex life – a choice perceived as optimal and liberating. Personal factors and the memories of marital relationships seem to shape older women's (a)sexual expectations. Acknowledging these nuances may contribute to a better understanding of older women's sexual functioning; implications for consideration in further research and practice are also discussed.

Living in a Paradox: How Older Single and Widowed Black Women Understand Their Sexuality

The current phenomenological study explored how single and/or widowed older Black women understand their sexuality in the context of their Black matriarchal role and through their relational interactions with their children, families, friends, and their extended social networks. The women spoke about their sexuality in the contexts of Black matriarchy, concept of self, and communication. Black matriarchy was defined as the tenacity with which, as Black women and Black mothers, participants occupied a centralized role in their families, while concept of self reflected heavily on conflicting perceptions they held of their understanding of themselves as sexual beings. Regarding communication, many participants felt constrained in self-disclosing their sexual feelings and relationship status. Living in a paradox exemplified our interpretation of the women' struggles as they tried to balance the expectations of the roles they occupied in society with their own identity as a sexual being. Our findings offer a nuanced exploration of the various dimensions about how they understand themselves by providing invaluable insight into their world as older Black women. The implications for policy and practice pertain to assessing the fundamental historical and contemporary issues that older Black women face while simultaneously considering the convergence of race, gender, and sexuality.