The aging process leads to significant shifts and transformations not only in individuals’ biological forms but also in their social roles and identities. This study aims to examine men aged 65 and over anxieties regarding aging within the framework of “hegemonic masculinity theory” The research is based on in depth interviews conducted in the Şişli and Gaziosmanpaşa districts of Istanbul, which represent diverse socio-economic dynamics. In this context, the study focuses on a survey conducted in the districts of Şişli and Gaziosmanpaşa in the province of Istanbul, which have different socio-economic dynamics, and centers on the question “What situations and events cause you anxiety as you get older?” Findings from in-depth interviews conducted with a total of 20 men aged 65 and over from both districts indicate that the concerns of older men center on experiences such as becoming dependent, loss of physical and cognitive function, loneliness and a decline in social support rather than death itself. The central argument of the study is that, for older men, the loss of the sense of independence, control and competence which are the defining elements of masculinity lies at the heart of their anxiety. In this context, old age is conceptualized as a process where hegemonic masculinity dissolves, becomes marginalized, and its boundaries are rendered visible. Consequently, this study proposes to rethink aging as a contested domain where gender regimes are both reproduced and fractured. In doing so, it aims to make an empirical and theoretical contribution to the intersection of masculinity studies and the sociology of aging.

Hegemonic masculinity, aging, dependency, Sociology of aging