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For further assistance with your assignment, ask at the Belzberg Library Reference Desk or contact Nina Smart, Liaison Librarian for Gerontology ( / ) . For other assistance see Ask a Librarian
Course description
Instructor: Dr. Barbara Mitchell
"Aging and sexual function is often seen in several components: Physiological changes, adapting sex roles, aged stereotypes, sexual drives, sexual values and associated behaviors and the social context of sexual attitudes and beliefs in our society...The course will focus on the normative aspects of sex and aging and those issues that arise around sexual behavior in seniors with chronic illness, cognitive decline and physical impairments. It will examine the subject from the perspective of aging persons who are active and independent in the community, to those who live in a variety of care settings."
Note: for more information see GERO 413's Canvas page. If there are discrepancies between information listed on this page and that in Canvas or instructor handouts, please refer to the latter.]
Book reviews
You can find print books and ebooks in the SFU Library Catalogue. If the book you want is already out on loan you can find other books on the topic (discuss your choice with your TM if you are not sure it's appropriate). Suggested subject headings:
- Older people -- Sexual behavior start with this list
- Love in old age
- Sex instruction for older people
- Sexual disorders
You can also check at your local library for a copy of one of the books on the suggested list.
For more information, see the SFU guide Finding book reviews and writing book reviews
Term paper
Help:
Assignment calculator time management tool to help you break down your writing assignments into a series of steps
Start your research here overview of the research process and tips for finding sources - although your suggested sources are right below!
Writing help online is available via WriteAway -submit a draft of your paper and "online tutors will provide strategies and resources to help you improve your writing". Turnaround time is currently four days.
Background information
Reference works such as encyclopedias are a great place to start to get an overview of a topic. Entries are written by experts in the field, and there is often a useful bibliography. In addition, looking though one scholarly monograph is much faster than reading several journal articles.
Useful titles:
- Encyclopedia of gerontology [print or online]
Major article "Sexuality, Sensuality, and Intimacy" - Encyclopedia of sex and gender [print and online]
See articles: "Elderly, sex among" with a bibliography and a list of related topics, and "Sexuality, Sensuality, and Intimacy" with a bibliography - GLBTQ (archived) "an encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, & queer culture"
See entries on Ageism and Aging, including a bibliography - Handbook of clinical sexuality for mental health professionals [print or online]
See sections III and IV on sexual dysfunction, and various entries under Age/Aging in the Index - Sexual Victimization: Then and Now [print]
See Chapter 9: Victimization of the Vulnerable, section "Elder Sexual Abuse"
Journal articles
To find journal articles, start with the following indexes:
Ageline
the major social gerontology database, and it is all about older people. You can start with this database for most term paper topics.
Samples searches: Sexual* AND (media or popular culture) AND (Stereotypes or Attitudes)
Sexual Behavior AND Patients AND attitudes
Health Promotion AND Sexuality
Sample subject terms: Sexual Abuse; Sexual Dysfunction
Communication & Mass Media Complete
covers journals in the fields of communication and mass media studies
Sample search: (aging or older) AND sex* AND (social media or mass media)
PsycINFO
"literature in the field of psychology and psychological aspects of related disciplines"
Hint: You can also narrow the search by selecting Aged (65 yrs and older) in the Age Groups field of the "Refine search" section OR: narrow search with "Subject X" And (Aging OR Gerontology)
Sample subject terms: Sexuality; Erectile Dysfunction; Psychosexual Behavior; Sexual Function Disturbances
Sample search:
CINAHL Complete
Nursing and allied health, for medical topics
Sample terms: Attitude to Sexuality Aged; Aged, 80 and Over; Aging
Sample search: health promotion AND (sexuality OR sexual health) AND (aging OR old age)
Sociological Abstracts
Sample search: (Elderly or Aging or Ageism) AND Sexuality
What if you are told to include peer-reviewed journals?
The databases above contain scholarly journals: CINAHL and PsycINFO have a peer reviewed Limit; the other databases have a Scholarly or Academic journals limit
It all articles must be peer-reviewed, see: What is a scholarly (or peer-reviewed) journal? and follow link to find "How to tell if a journal is peer-reviewed"
What if you find a great, but older, article?
Go to Google Scholar (with SFU journal holdings), type in the title of the article, and then click on "Cited by" to find newer journal articles
See also:
- Generations Summer 2016 LGBT Aging Issue
- Older women's sexuality online article from Medical Journal of Australia
Learning log & Outlines
For more information, see the following:
- Keeping a learning log BBC's Key Skills
- Creating an Outline - Douglas College Learning Commons
Useful sites
- Aging and Human Sexuality Resource Guide American Psychological Association. Bibliography and links to organizations
- Archives of Sexuality & Gender 1940 - 2016"primary sources on social, political, health, and legal issues impacting LGBTQ communities around the world" You can analyze results by Term clusters
- Dr. Sharron Hinchcliff fom the University of Sheffield covers the areas of ageing, gender, and health
- Elderly Victims of Sexual Abuse and Their Offenders U.S. Department of Justice research report
- QMUNITY's Stories of Older Queers SFU collection of video interviews and still pictures
- Safer Sex for Seniors includes books, blogs, LGBT issues, organizations and more
- Senior Sex: Tips for Older Men Mayo Clinic
- Sexuality and Aging Sexual Health Centre (Calgary)
Services for off-campus students
- See the Services for Distance Education Students SFU Library guide