Aging and Older Men: Thoughts, Reflections and Issues:
Introduction
Robert Blundo and Deborah E. Bowen, Guest Editors

Meeting the Needs of Older Men:Challenges for Those in Helping Professions
Jordan I. Kosberg
The uniqueness of men’s lives has not been revealed in the social service literature. Therefore policy makers and practitioners are without the necessary knowledge base and research to create programs and services that will engage men and, in particular, aging men. This article presents an overview of the state of knowledge in general and the specific areas significant to policy and practice development.

Shifting Identity: Process and Change in Identity of Aging Mexican-American Males
Gary L. Villereal and Alonzo Cavazos,Jr.
This article addresses the shift in machismo identity that occurs in Mexican-American male identity and the developmental process and the change in one’s role as an elderly Mexican-American man. Socialization of male-ism in Mexican-American boys begins with the cultural expectation that a young boy is and will be a man. There are also explicit expectations that girls should be respected but that, in contrast to boys, girls should be submissive and obedient. This is the beginning of machismo and the separation of being a “man” versus being a “woman.” Aging results in a loss of machismo and this is evident by the manner in which elderly males interact with their spouse and adult children. Towards the latter part of life, decision-making becomes a shared process between spouses. Quite often, Mexican-American elderly males are seen accompanying their spouse’s at flea markets, garage sales, grocery shopping
and even assisting with baby sitting grandchildren.

Grandfathers and The Impact of Raising Grandchildren
Karen Bullock
Objectives. As grandparents are continuing to take on the responsible of raising their grandchildren in the absence of parents much attention in the literature is given to women. Little is known about the adjustment that older men make in these families. This study explored the experiences of grandfathers raising grandchildren.
Methods. Data were gathered by semi-structured interviews in a rural community in southeastern North Carolina and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis mode. Twenty-six men, age 65+, who were responsible for the care of at least one grandchild, participated. Results. Eighty-one percent (N = 21) reported that their perception of powerlessness occurred either in the role transition or in the activities of daily parenting. Many expected to continue experiencing powerlessness throughout the parenting of the child. Discussion. Grandfathers experience powerlessness that has not been reported in the literature on grandmothers raising grandchildren. Results affirm the need for special attention to elderly men who take on the role of parent for their grandchildren.

The Peculiarities of Men Aging: A Collection of Anecdotes
Robert Blundo and Tamara Estes
Men are reticent to share with others the slow realization that with age they
begin to confront a world that they had not expected. They had not expected to grow old. Now that this is happening, men have few relationships that permit them to share their thoughts and moments of recognition. The anecdotes that men share are revealing in that they demonstrate basic human uncertainties about the later part of life’s cycle.

Social Security and the African American Male (A Cash Transfer System)
Eddie Davis
All employed workers are required to contribute to the Social Security System; however, a disproportionate percentage of African American males never live long enough to collect any benefits from their contributions. On the other hand, the life-expectancy of white males is significantly longer than the life expectancy of African American males, and their collection of Social Security benefits tends to exceed their contributions to the system. The federal government keeps the Social Security system from becoming completely solvent by raiding it of any surplus funds it collects; thereby,
preventing the Social Security Fund from developing interest income, and accumulating funds for future generations of retirees.

Viagra: Medical Technology Constructing Aging Masculinity
Gregory Gross and Robert Blundo
Medicalization and commodification of the body through technology in the form of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs is reinforcing the cultural expectations that ageing men are required to age well to maintain youthful masculinity. Ageing well is explored as it relates the construction of masculinity, sexuality and ageing men’s bodies.

Principles of Clinical Practice with Older Men
Lenard W. Kaye and Jennifer A. Crittenden
Older men are much less likely to be aware of community services available to them and they are less likely to utilize services generally. This underutilization is affected by the way in which social services are organized and how practitioners function within them. Since there are greater numbers of elderly women and women utilize services more readily, practice tends to be female-centered. It is important that gender-sensitive intervention processes are established that recognize the unique experiences and concerns of older men in order to better serve them. The uniqueness of men’s experiences with such issues as loss of a spouse, retirement, caregiving, and
victimization warrant particular attention by gerontological practitioners. Male-friendly interventions that take into account traditional male values will foster greater participation and better quality care for older men.

Honoring the Elders: Interviews with Two Lakota Men
Deborah E. Bowen The beliefs that honoring the elders, commitment to family, and the connectedness to all creation are paramount are intrinsic to Lakota culture. Two Lakota elders, Albert White Hat, Sr. and Sylvan White Hat, Sr. are interviewed for this article. They express their concerns with major social justice issues, and offer hope for future generations of Lakota children. A strengths-based perspective of social work practice is compared to traditional Lakota customs and practices.

The Contemporary Older Man: Summary and Discussion
Roberta Greene and Michael Wright

BOOK REVIEWS
Gender and the Social Gospel.
Wendy J. Deichman Edwards and Carolyn De Swarte Giffors (Eds.).
Reviewed by John Herrick.

The Changing of the Guard: Lesbian and Gay Elders, Identity and
Social Change.
Dana Rosenfeld.
Reviewed by John F. Longres.

Health Policy in a Globalising World.
Kelley Lee, Kent Buse and Suzanne Fustukian (Eds.).
Reviewed by Mizanur R. Miah.

Gangs and Society: Alternative Perspectives.
Louis Kontos, David Brotherton and Luis Barrios (Eds.).
Reviewed by Matthew T. Theriot.

At Work in the Iron Cage: The Prison as Gendered Organization.
Dana M. Britton.
Reviewed by Katherine vanWormer.

Being Homeless: Textual and Narrative Constructions.
Amir B. Marvasti.
Reviewed by John Q. Hodges.

BOOK NOTES
A History of Public Sector Pensions in the United States.
Robert L. Clark, Lee A. Craig and Jack W. Wilson.

Adopting Maternity: White Women who Adopt Transracially and
Transnationally.
Nora Rose Moosnick.

A Short History of Distributive Justice.
Samuel Fleischacker.

Reflecting on Social Work: Discipline and Profession.
Robin Lovelock, Karen Lyons and Jackie Powell (Eds.).

Globalization: Culture and Education in the New Millenium.
Marcelo M. Suarez-Orozco and Desiree Baolian Qin-Hilliard (Eds.).

The Practicum Companion for Social Work: Integrating Class and
Field Work.
Marla Berg-Weger and Julie Birkenmaier.