Improvement of Older Women's Sexuality Through Emancipatory Education

Abstract

The purpose of this action research (AR) was to explore the ways in which sexuality is experienced daily and to improve the expression of older women's sexuality. The pedagogy of autonomy as proposed by the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire theoretically supported this AR, with the participation of six older adult women living in a rural setting in southwest Brazil. The older women's experiences regarding sexuality, their concerns, and their educational demands could be summarized through five phrases: the improvement of self-esteem as a way to promote sexuality; sexuality impaired by loneliness and lack of affection; men's sexual satisfaction seen as a woman's obligation; women's sexuality controlled by the society; and relinquishment of the companion to attend to the expectations of family members. Dialogical and participative educational approaches and continuous observation-participation strategies were performed to support the women's care and educational requirements.

Sexual Aging: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research on the Sexuality and Sexual Health of Older Adults

“…This inhibition in the discourse around sexuality is reflected in another finding that was prevalent in this subtheme: women’s position in sexual relationships with men is usually passive and subordinated, particularly in more traditional societies such as Mexico, Iran, Brazil, and Korea. Men’s sexual satisfaction is often viewed as women’s obligation (Baldissera, Bueno, & Hoga, 2012; de Araújo, Queiroz, Moura, & Penna, 2013; Ravanipour, Gharibi, & Gharibi, 2013) and women take a passive role and leave initiating sex to men (Lagana & Maciel, 2010; Yun, Kim, & Chung, 2014).…”

Professional Activity in the Context of Health Education: A Systematic Review

“…et al (2010) 38 Firmino R. et al(2010) 26 Diaz CMG. et al (2010) 14 Roecker S, Marcon SS (2011) 42 Truesdale-Kennedy M, Taggart L, Mcilfatrick S (2011) 20 Baldissera VDA, Bueno SMV (2012) 39 Baldissera VD, Bueno SM,Hoga LA (2012) 40 Rossman CL, Ayoola AB(2012) 41 Personal and collective processes and experiences, seen within a broad field of corporeity, transcendence and subjectivity, which show a change of behavior and the adoption of healthy habits.…”

Ageism and Sexuality

“…Similarly, older women, who knew about vaginal lubricants, said that they felt that sex was still physically uncomfortable even when using lubrication (Shea 2011). In addition, while men were concerned about erectile function, women agreed that in older age, a companion is more important than sex and that they engage in sex as part of an obligation to sexually satisfy their partner (Baldissera et al 2012). Shea (2011) opined that expanding the notion of sexuality beyond sexual intercourse is necessary.…”