'I’m going to live my life for me’: trans ageing, care and older trans and gender non-conforming adults’ expectations of and concerns for later life

Paul B Willis*, Michele Raithby, Christine Dobbs, Elizabeth Evans, Jenny-Anne Bishop

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)
147 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

While research on the health and wellbeing of older lesbian, gay and bisexual adults is gradually expanding, research on older trans and gender non-conforming (TGNC) adults’ lags behind. Current scholarship about this group raises important questions about the intersection of ageing and gender identity for enhancing care and support for older TGNC adults and the lack of preparedness of health and social professionals for meeting these needs. In this paper we examine the accounts of 22 TGNC individuals (50-74 years) on the topic of ageing and unpack their concerns for and expectations of later life. We present qualitative findings from a study of gender identity, ageing and care, based in Wales. Data was generated from two-part interviews with each participant. Four key themes are identified: 1) facilitative factors for transitioning in mid to later life; 2) growing older as a new lease of life; 3) growing older: regrets, delays and uncertainties; and, 4) ambivalent expectations of social care services. We argue that growing older as TGNC can be experienced across a multitude of standpoints, ranging from a new lease of life to a time of regret and uncertainty. We critically discuss emergent notions of trans time, precarity and uncertainty running across participants’ accounts and the implications for enhancing recognition of gender non-conformity and gender identity in social gerontology.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-22
Number of pages22
JournalAgeing and Society
Volume0
Issue number0
Early online date19 May 2020
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 19 May 2020

Research Groups and Themes

  • SPS Centre for Research in Health and Social Care

Keywords

  • Trans
  • Gender non-conforming
  • Gender identity
  • ageing
  • Older adults
  • Social care

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