Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

"I am What I am. My Own Special Creation" : A qualitative interview study on queer ageing and eldercare.

Hultin, Jesper LU (2023) GNVM03 20231
Department of Gender Studies
Abstract
The objective of this Master’s thesis is to expand scholarship on ageing and eldercare through the lens of queer gerontology; to develop said scholarship on the queering of eldercare through the experiences of LGBTQ+ seniors and LGBTQ+ certified eldercare practitioners. Through four interviews with LGBTQ+ seniors and abovementioned practitioners, the core findings of the thesis put to question the collective subjectivity that is LGBTQ+ seniors, as neither LGBTQ+ informant thought of sexuality as an identity, but rather a practice. It acknowledges the presence of nonnormative sexual practices in old age, and how the seniors themselves and eldercare staff silences these deviant aspects. Moreover, attempts to create inclusive eldercare falls... (More)
The objective of this Master’s thesis is to expand scholarship on ageing and eldercare through the lens of queer gerontology; to develop said scholarship on the queering of eldercare through the experiences of LGBTQ+ seniors and LGBTQ+ certified eldercare practitioners. Through four interviews with LGBTQ+ seniors and abovementioned practitioners, the core findings of the thesis put to question the collective subjectivity that is LGBTQ+ seniors, as neither LGBTQ+ informant thought of sexuality as an identity, but rather a practice. It acknowledges the presence of nonnormative sexual practices in old age, and how the seniors themselves and eldercare staff silences these deviant aspects. Moreover, attempts to create inclusive eldercare falls short as the normalization of LGBTQ+ identities silences queer and deviating identities and aspects of ourselves. There’s an incongruence in the ways the practitioners and LGBTQ+ seniors relate to sexuality. This furthers the silencing of todays’ LGBTQ+ seniors, as the practitioners appear to be preparing for younger cohorts which to a larger degree regard sexuality as an identity. Ultimately, a queering of eldercare requires an embracement of the deviant and undesired – including our perceptions of non-monogamous, kinky sexual practices in a nursing home. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hultin, Jesper LU
supervisor
organization
course
GNVM03 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
LGBTQ+ seniors, eldercare, ageing, queer gerontology, social work HBTQ+ seniorer, äldreomsorg, åldrande, queer gerontologi, socialt arbete
language
English
id
9135136
date added to LUP
2023-08-29 08:50:07
date last changed
2023-08-29 08:50:07
@misc{9135136,
  abstract     = {{The objective of this Master’s thesis is to expand scholarship on ageing and eldercare through the lens of queer gerontology; to develop said scholarship on the queering of eldercare through the experiences of LGBTQ+ seniors and LGBTQ+ certified eldercare practitioners. Through four interviews with LGBTQ+ seniors and abovementioned practitioners, the core findings of the thesis put to question the collective subjectivity that is LGBTQ+ seniors, as neither LGBTQ+ informant thought of sexuality as an identity, but rather a practice. It acknowledges the presence of nonnormative sexual practices in old age, and how the seniors themselves and eldercare staff silences these deviant aspects. Moreover, attempts to create inclusive eldercare falls short as the normalization of LGBTQ+ identities silences queer and deviating identities and aspects of ourselves. There’s an incongruence in the ways the practitioners and LGBTQ+ seniors relate to sexuality. This furthers the silencing of todays’ LGBTQ+ seniors, as the practitioners appear to be preparing for younger cohorts which to a larger degree regard sexuality as an identity. Ultimately, a queering of eldercare requires an embracement of the deviant and undesired – including our perceptions of non-monogamous, kinky sexual practices in a nursing home.}},
  author       = {{Hultin, Jesper}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{"I am What I am. My Own Special Creation" : A qualitative interview study on queer ageing and eldercare.}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}