Cultural Representations of Queer Aging in Spain

This collection examines representations of Spanish queer aging through investigations of literary and cinematic representations of this demographic, offering a showcase for research on communities often made invisible due to age and sexual identity in Spanish culture with wider implications for queer aging studies research.

The volume builds on theoretical foundations established by queer aging studies scholars and the ways in which queer aging differs from heterosexual aging, examining negative topics that arise in literature and film (such as the AIDS crisis, the silencing of queer aging individuals, and social stigmas against this group), in addition to positive topics (like the creation of communities and spaces for queer aging characters). Chapters are structured in conversation with one another about key themes in depictions of queer aging in Spanish culture. Several chapters examine such topics as the aging body, stereotypes and discrimination, old age tropes, and queer invisibility, while others highlight positive representations in exploring the importance of the connection to home, family, and community spaces for queer communities. The collection represents a critical step in future work on queer aging to take future research beyond the Spanish context to extend to new geographic and disciplinary borders.

This book will be of interest to scholars in aging studies, gerontology studies, queer theory, health humanities, and Spanish literature and culture.

Heather Jerónimo is Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Northern Iowa, USA.

Raquel Medina is a visiting research fellow at Aston University, UK, and Dean of Area Studies at International Education of Students (IES Abroad Barcelona).