Women in Studies of Aging: A Critique and Suggestion

The tendency of social gerontologists to compare the male and female experiences of aging is examined. The conclusion that aging is more problematic and traumatic for men than for women is discussed. A contrasting view, expressed in feminist writings and supported in some measure by demographic and statistical data, is presented. The divergence between these two positions is shown to be related to theoretical and methodological assumptions. The social gerontologists' use of role theory is a major focus of the critique. A phenomenological approach is suggested as more appropriate for probing the private sphere in which much of the female experience is defined.