Queering Aging Futures

This paper explores the potential for cultural gerontology to extend its ideas of diversity in aging experiences by opening space to rethink conceptions of successful aging futures. We propose a ‘queering’ of aging futures that disrupts the ways that expectations of a good later life and happy aging...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSocieties (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 7; no. 3; p. 21
Main Authors Sandberg, Linn, Marshall, Barbara
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.09.2017
Subjects
Aging
cultural gerontology
Feminism
Feminist theory
future
Futures
gender
Gerontology
Heteronormativity
later life
Multiculturalism & pluralism
queer theory
sexuality
Success
cultural gerontology
gender
sexuality
later life
queer theory
future
aging
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Summary:This paper explores the potential for cultural gerontology to extend its ideas of diversity in aging experiences by opening space to rethink conceptions of successful aging futures. We propose a ‘queering’ of aging futures that disrupts the ways that expectations of a good later life and happy aging are seen to adhere to some bodies and subjectivities over others. Drawing on feminist, queer, and crip theories, we build on existing critiques of ‘successful aging’ to interrogate the assumptions of heteronormativity, able-bodiedness and able-mindedness that shape the dividing lines between success and failure in aging, and which inform attempts to ‘repair’ damaged futures. Conclusions suggest that recognizing diversity in successful aging futures is important in shaping responses to the challenges of aging societies, and presents an opportunity for critical cultural gerontology to join with its theoretical allies in imagining more inclusive alternatives.
ISSN:2075-4698
2075-4698
DOI:10.3390/soc7030021