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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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"I think a woman can take it"
— widowed men's views and experiences of gender differences in bereavement | | Author(s) | Kate M Bennett, Georgina M Hughes, Philip T Smith |
| Journal title | Ageing International, vol 28, no 4, Fall 2003 |
| Pages | pp 408-424 |
| Keywords | Widowers ; Widows ; Bereavement ; Adjustment ; Older men ; Attitude ; Social surveys. |
| Annotation | Do the views and experiences of older widowed men regarding widowhood agree, and can they be explained in terms of notions of masculinity? This paper is based on a research study in the ESRC's Growing Older (GO) Programme, in which older widowed men were asked whether they believed men or women coped better, and were asked about their own experiences. This paper discusses the similarities and differences between the views and experiences of these widowed men within a framework of masculinity. Men believe that women are better equipped to deal with widowhood. They explain this in terms of women's domestic abilities and social skills, and men's inability to talk about their emotions. These views can be understood in terms of masculinity. However, analysis of their experiences suggest that the picture is more complex. Men were found to be as socially engaged as women, and showed a range of domestic abilities: some were keen cooks and houseproud, while others relied on ready meals and family support. Women believed that men received more support than they did; this was confirmed. Unexpectedly, men reported more depressive experiences than women. It is argued that the experiences of widowed men may be understood in a masculinity framework, if one incorporates notions of diversity and social change. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-041202207 A |
| Classmark | SPA: SP: DW: DR: BC: DP: 3F |
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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