Why This Film

Although Susan Sontag coined the term “the double standard of aging” in 1970, more than fifty years later, the harmful intersection of sexism and ageism still results in women being perceived as older and undesirable as early as their forties, while men can be seen as attractive well into their “golden years”. Cultural historian J Brooks Bouson writes in her book, Shame and the Aging Woman, that the shaming of older women is a “secret hidden in plain sight”. Women are taught that signs of aging are defects and that shame breeds silence. Joan Price’s unapologetic sexuality in her 80’s represents a radical stand against gendered ageism.

In addition, Joan’s work, and by extension the documentary, highlights current findings that while mainstream heteronormative sex can be physically challenging for older couples, new, more creative forms of sexuality can be just, if not more satisfying. In 2005, Peggy J. Kleinplatz, a professor of medicine at the University of Ottawa and a sex researcher, began interviewing people who have “built” rich and intimate sex lives. In her 2020 book, Magnificent Sex: Lessons from Extraordinary Lovers, which she co-authored with A. Dana Ménard, 40% of the participants were in their 60s, 70s, or 80s. Kleinplatz emphasizes that because bodies change, good sex in old age often needs reimagining away from more “goal oriented” sex to include more touching, kissing, erotic massage, oral sex and sex toys. However, with those changes seniors can reach the highest levels of intimacy and pleasure.  We just live in an ageist society, sex negative society that has limited our notions of what’s possible in later life.