Discover the diverse ways aging women attempt to deal with the universal challenges of loss, sickness, and death along with the problems of being old women in a society that values women mainly as sexual partners or producers of children. Old women are often seen as poor, powerless, and pitiful in our sexist and youth-oriented society. The truth is that women age much more successfully than do men and they are increasingly in the majority as our population ages. These truths and others are presented in Faces of Women and Aging--a collection written by women, a number of whom are themselves older women who bring their unique life experiences and personalities to the topic. This uplifting book emphasizes that middle and old age are merely stages of growth and development, not just seasons of loss and decline as the end approaches. A wealth of topics are covered in Faces of Women and Aging that broaden the reader’s awareness of the problems of women and aging including: how to maintain self-esteem in the face of sexism, ageism, and severe illness
the problems of being single or divorced in the later years
the problems of maintaining a good body image for older women in a society which values the young and the beautiful
the additional difficulties of minority women, specifically lesbians and native American women
increased dependency brought on by illness and loss of partners Faces of Women and Aging combines personal narratives that serve as reminders of the human beings behind statistics and case studies with theoretical observations which help therapists assist older women cope with the daily hardships as well as the more catastrophic problems of aging.
Table of Contents Contents Preface Late Mid-Life Astonishment: Disruptions to Identity and Self-Esteem
When Mary Stopped Talking
Aging Lesbians: Bearing the Burden of Triple Shame
Three Native American Women Speak About the Significance of Ceremony
Confronting Ageism: A MUST for Mental Health
The Myth of the Golden Years: One Older Woman’s Perspective
Body Image Issues of Older Women
Where are the Archetypes? Searching for Symbols of Women’s Midlife Passage
From Edith Bunker to the 6:00 News: How and What Midlife Women Learn About Menopause
Women at Midlife: Current Theoretical Perspectives and Research
The Significance of the 50th Birthday for Women’s Individuation
Older Never Married Women: A Cross-Cultural Investigation
Older Women Coping With Divorce: Peer Support Groups
Real Versus Reel World: Older Women and the Academy Awards
Between Midlife and Old Age: Never Too Old to Learn
The Empowerment of Women Residents in the Nursing Home
Reference Notes Included | 
