Men Still at Work
Professionals Over Sixty and On the Job
By (author) Elizabeth F. Fideler research fellow at the Sloan Center on Aging & Work, Boston College
Publication date:
18 February 2014Length of book:
232 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersDimensions:
233x160mm6x9"
ISBN-13: 9781442222755
Men Still at Work explores the reasons why many men are continuing to work well beyond the traditional retirement age. In today’s challenging economy, they are the second-fastest growing group of workers (just behind older women). Filled with profiles of older working men, as well as dynamic interview quotes, Men Still at Work explores thorny issues such as masculinity and the “need to provide,” as well as economic issues, job satisfaction, and more.
In this follow-up to her Women Still at Work (2012), Fideler seeks to understand why many professional men age 60 or older choose to continue working at a time in life when many others have retired, and to describe their experiences as they navigate work life in an increasingly challenging economy. Drawing upon findings from the latest research on men, work, and aging, the results of her own survey, and candid profiles from in-depth interviews she conducted with such men, Fideler provides a glimpse into the complex inner world of this fast-growing segment of the US workforce. Older men's desire to find meaning in their work–and make a difference in others' lives via their work–is an oft-mentioned motive. The author also found that many of these men enjoyed a rich workplace social life through their relationships with colleagues and clientele alike. Surprisingly, more utilitarian and baser motives, such as the need for pay and benefits, or the allure of wielding power and authority, were not nearly as important to these men as one might think. Overall, an engaging, accessible overview of what the future holds for many younger men who will undoubtedly work into their 60s ... and beyond. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.