Queer Gerontology: Principles for Advancing Rigor and Justice

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology
• LGBTQ+ Studies

Background:

• Gerontology has increasingly focused on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and additional sexual and gender diverse (LGBTQ+) populations.
• Scholars advocate for "queering" the life course, aging futures, and gerontology itself to better understand LGBTQ+ aging experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a vision of queer gerontology, structured around five core principles.
• To advance scholarship on aging by transforming knowledge development and fostering scholarly communities.
• To promote inclusion and justice for LGBTQ+ older adults and all aging individuals.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical waves of LGBTQ+ aging literature.
• Integration of scholarly experiences within the field of LGBTQ+ aging.
• Development and discussion of five guiding principles for queer gerontology.

Main Results:

• A framework of five principles for queer gerontology is presented.
• These principles aim to guide and build solidarity in the study of LGBTQ+ aging.
• The proposed framework is expected to foster diversity and creativity in understanding later life.

Conclusions:

• Queer gerontology offers a pathway for rigorous advancement in aging scholarship.
• The principles support the transformation of knowledge development and the creation of inclusive scholarly communities.
• Implementing queer gerontology promotes greater diversity, creativity, inclusion, and justice in aging for LGBTQ+ individuals and all people.