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"Courage to cobble something new": Women's queer and creative narratives of bisexuality and ageing.

Authors :
Jones, Rebecca L.
Jen, Sarah
Reiter, Bea
Source :
Journal of Aging Studies. Jun2023, Vol. 65, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Critical gerontologists have called for more diverse and inclusive visions of a good old age, and especially for imaginings that do not depend on health, wealth and heterosexuality. They have suggested that LGBTQ people, alongside other marginalized groups, may have particular contributions to make to the project of reimagining ageing. In this paper, we bring together this work with Jose Muñoz's concept of 'cruising utopia' to examine possibilities for imagining a more utopian, queer life course. We present findings from a narrative analysis of Bi Women Quarterly, a grassroots online bi community newsletter with an international readership, analyzing three issues published between 2014 and 2019 that focused on the intersection of ageing and bisexuality. We found several ways in which the authors told counter-narratives that queered normative visions of successful ageing. They queered norms around the stability and reification of sexual and gender identities. They challenged current forms of LGBTQ activism. They embraced and celebrated ageing, through such activities as croning ceremonies, and directly addressed and contemplated death. Finally, they queered the narrative form, by giving accounts of personal experience that were dreamlike, poetic or inconclusive. We conclude that counter-normative spaces, such as activist newsletters, offer valuable resources to progress the wider project of reimagining successful ageing more inclusively. • Muñoz ' s concept of 'cruising utopia ' suggests possibilities for imagining a more utopian, queer old age. • Grassroots activist newsletters create a space where counter-normative accounts of later life can more easily be told. • Accounts of ageing produced in activist spaces can progress the project of reimagining successful ageing more inclusively [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
08904065
Volume :
65
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Aging Studies
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
164020395
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2023.101133