Men in Retirement and Old Age

Abstract

In this and the following chapter the large-scale changes described previously will be related more directly to individual experiences and perceptions about ageing and retirement. The focus will be on providing an account of how people approach old age, with an examination of the tensions and opportunities it brings into their lives. In developing such an account considerable problems need to be recognised by both reader and writer when evaluating certain items of information. A difficulty lies in freeing ourselves from a particular view of ageing in general and of retirement in particular: one which focuses exclusively on the redundancy of the old, and on their supposed yearning for past relationships and activities. This approach treats retirement as a personal tragedy, portraying the retired person — particularly the male — as victim of a powerful work ethic, and difficulties in adjusting to retirement are seen as reflecting a failure to find substitutes for the stimulation once provided via work.