“It’s a guy thing”: Hegemonic masculinity and older men’s engagement in shelter/transitional housing programs

Richardson, L. R., Canham, S. L., Aaenson-Fletcher, J., Kusari, K., Humphries, J., & Walsh, C. A. (2026). “It’s a guy thing”: Hegemonic masculinity and older men’s engagement in shelter/transitional housing programs. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2026.2613040

Abstract

Men aged 50+ are disproportionately represented among older adults in shelters. Drawing on Connell’s theory of hegemonic masculinity, we conducted a secondary qualitative data analysis of interviews with older men in shelters/transitional housing aged 50+ (n = 21) and service providers (n = 15) to understand how older men negotiate support in three Canadian shelters/housing sites. Older men’s experiences and behavior that limited support include: 1) choosing isolation; 2) self-reliance; 3) aggression in conflict; and 4) equating support with being less masculine. Older men negotiated support through: 1) social practices that avoided vulnerability; 2) relationship-building with trustworthy providers; 3) creative expression; and 4) service.

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