Loneliness and the Aging Homosexual:

Kehoe, Monika

doi:10.1300/j082v20n03_09

Cited by 14 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Based on the estimate that 6.5 per cent of the total UK population is ‘exclusively homosexual’, Age Concern (2002) suggests that one in 15 of its services users will be LGB. Despite a growing awareness by academics, policy makers and service providers of the socially diverse nature of the older population, older LGB adults have traditionally either been ignored within gerontology or represented as socially isolated due to social and familial rejection (Fokkema and Kuyper 2009; Kehoe 1991).…”

Section: Lgb Communities Social Network and Ageingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Only connect? Older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults and social capital

Cronin

King

2012

Ageing and Society

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The concept of social capital is widely used in the social sciences and has, to an extent, been applied to the lives and social networks of older lesbian, gay and bisexual (hereafter LGB) adults. Developing existing research, this paper argues that while not without its problems, the concept of social capital enriches our understanding of these networks, whilst simultaneously deconstructing the negative stereotypes surrounding homosexuality in later life. However, little attention has been paid to the social factors that mediate access and participation in lesbian and gay communities and the implications of this on the quality and experience of later life. Drawing on qualitative research conducted in the United Kingdom (UK), this paper illustrates how biography, gender and socio-economic status are significant mediators in the development and maintenance of social capital by older LGB adults. It concludes with a set of recommendations aimed at improving the social capital of older LGB adults, together with the importance of 'queering' the concept itself.

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Section: Lgb Communities Social Network and Ageingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Only connect? Older lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adults and social capital

Cronin

King

2012

Ageing and Society

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“…The evidence offered to support such an assumption has been primarily anecdotal. For example, Kehoe (1991) writes, "Because of disapproval and distancing by their relatives, they [elderly lesbians and gay men] are often left with no meaningful human contacts" (p. 137). Another popular view of the aging homosexual was described by Berger (1980), Older [homosexual] men are depicted as isolated from other homosexual males, both young and old, who place great importance on the good looks of youth.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Old, Sad and Alone

Dorfman

Walters

Burke³

et al. 1995

Journal of Gerontological Social Work

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This paper reports the findings of a survey of 108 elderly heterosexual and homosexual men and women in urban Central and Southern California. The purpose of the study was to test the assumption that elderly gay men and lesbians are more depressed and socially-isolated than their heterosexual cohort. The findings indicate that there are no significant differences between older heterosexuals and homosexuals in regard to depression and social support.

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“…Building on this, Dorfman et al (1995) dispute the traditional myth often perpetuated by both social service providers and social scientists (e.g. Kehoe, 1991;Walter and Simon, 1993) that older non-heterosexuals are likely to be socially depressed in later life due to an absence of social support. While accepting that older non-heterosexuals are less likely than heterosexuals to receive support from family members, they do receive high levels of social support from friends, leading Dorfman et al (1995) to coin the term 'friendship families'.…”

Section: Cultural Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%