Mass media rarely portrays older adults as active, enjoying, and celebrating life individuals. In the best case, it illustrates them as calm and resting, weak and harmless grandfathers and grandmothers. Sometimes they are depicted as dysfunctional, unsatisfied with life, and unkempt. It is uncommon to view older adults in commercials that embrace their sexuality and have a romantic life like other people. Thus, on the example of the famous television show, this essay aims to discuss the representation of older adults in the media, stereotypes about aging, and sexuality.
“Golden Girls” is a comedy show that tells the story of four women in their fifties that actively go on dates, build relationships, and lead romantic and sexual lives. Those television series portray the relationships and lifestyles of older people, similar to how middle-aged or young people do this. It is perceived mainly in a comedian way because society finds it absurd that people are still capable of feeling attraction, love, and hopes for the future after a certain age (Carpenter, 2020). Advertisements regularly focus on the fear of getting old, getting wrinkles, and losing physical attractiveness.
Thus, marketing usually conveys that older adults are already late for being socially and romantically active. Older people, specifically women, are not supposed to demonstrate their sexuality. While men of age are considered more handsome, women begin losing their attraction in society’s perception. Sexuality among older men is depicted by emphasizing their desire for romantic and sexual affection. At the same time, women are portrayed as indifferent to the physical side of human relationships and more interested in the mental connection. The same assumption applies to the romantic relationships between men and women, claiming that men are more involved in the sexual aspect while women value loyalty and romance. All those suggestions are not entirely accurate because people of different ages and sex can embrace their sexuality for almost their lifetimes, depending on their characteristics and personalities.
Nevertheless, in my personal opinion, there is no specific age when people should be considered old and stop embracing their sexuality turning into the stereotypical grandparents. This particular course reminded me that aging is a natural process. Media and society should not depict it as a terrible and shameful act that forbids men and women from enjoying regular social aspects of life. Thus, older adults can still feel and enjoy their sexuality despite social stereotypes and prejudice.
Reference
Carpenter, J. (2020). The Golden Girl’s positive take on older women and their sexuality. The Foreword. Web.