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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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The downside of Viagra
— women's experiences and concerns | | Author(s) | Annie Potts, Nicola Gavey, Victoria M Grace |
| Journal title | Sociology of Health & Illness, vol 25, no 7, November 2003 |
| Pages | pp 697-719 |
| Keywords | Older women ; Attitude ; Drugs ; Sexual activity ; Family relationships ; Qualitative Studies ; New Zealand. |
| Annotation | While much is known about the efficacy and safety of sexuopharmaceuticals used by men for the treatment of erectile difficulties, there is a dearth of knowledge on the perspectives and experiences of their sexual partners. In particular, few studies have focused on the possible detrimental effects for women of Viagra use within heterosexual relationships. The authors report on a qualitative study in New Zealand, which involved in-depth interviews with 27 women whose partners used Viagra. Three of the key issues identified revealed issues and concerns for the women involved: the neglect of women by those producing and prescribing Viagra; the embodied relationship (encompassing physical and psychosocial effects of Viagra use); and broader socio-cultural implications. While previous medically-oriented research in this area has generally assumed an unproblematic link between Viagra use and the resumption of penetrative sex, more attention needs to be paid to partners' perspectives and desires, and to the specific dynamics of any given relationship. Moreover, while the publicity surrounding Viagra may potentially facilitate more positive attitudes to sexuality in older age, it may also produce a societal expectation that "healthy" and "normal" life for older people requires the continuation of "youthful" (energetic) sex lives focused on penetrative intercourse. (KJ/RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-040227206 A |
| Classmark | BD: DP: LLD: BIU: DS:SJ: 3DP: 7YN |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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