“It’s a Guy Thing”: Hegemonic Masculinity and Older Men’s Engagement in Shelter/Transitional Housing Programs

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.