This interesting Health Magazine article got me thinking. What are the top 5 concerns of men vs. women in midlife? While this seems like an excellent question for an in-depth MEA workshop, here’s my quick and unstudied answer.
MEN
- A loss of virility.
- Career or financial disappointment.
- Growing irrelevance; for white straight men, possibly the first time dealing with an “ism” (ageism).
- Feeling lonely and not knowing what to do about it.
- A lack of purpose, especially if you chose early retirement.
WOMEN
- Perimenopausal symptoms that are much more noticeable than mens’ andropause.
- The tyranny of conventional beauty, a.k.a. “Just when I get comfortable in my own skin, it starts to sag.”
- Becoming invisible romantically while discovering: “the dating odds are against me.”
- Financial challenges of unequal salaries (compared to men), dwindling savings, and outdated divorce laws (in some states).
- Endless caregiving of parents, kids, and other relatives and friends.
Because I wrote these fast and off the cuff, I’m sure they’re far from perfect. What say you?