Demographic trends, such as the graying of divorce, have led to increasing numbers of unmarried women in midlife, yet little is known about the meaning of sex and intimacy among this population. This article reviews the nascent literature on single women's sexual experiences at midlife, theoretical frameworks that have been employed, and key findings. Challenging the stereotype that single women in midlife are in sexual decline, research shows that many women embrace their newfound freedom, have increased agency in midlife, and have positive sexual experiences. Others face impediments to finding new partners and engaging in sexual activity, including the lasting effects of abuse from previous relationships and restrictive social norms. For some, sex becomes less important in midlife, often replaced by close relationships with family and friends. Research largely focuses on White, heterosexual women; research on the experiences of racial and sexual minorities and midlife women in the Global South is needed.

中文翻译：

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中年性与单身女性：理论观点、最新发现和未来方向

人口趋势，例如离婚率的老龄化，导致中年未婚女性的数量不断增加，但人们对这一人群中性和亲密关系的意义知之甚少。本文回顾了有关单身女性中年性经历的新兴文献、已采用的理论框架以及主要发现。研究挑战了单身女性中年性欲衰退的刻板印象，研究表明，许多女性拥抱新获得的自由，在中年时增强了能动性，并拥有积极的性体验。其他人在寻找新伴侣和从事性活动方面面临障碍，包括以前关系中的虐待和限制性社会规范的持久影响。对于一些人来说，性在中年变得不那么重要，常常被与家人和朋友的亲密关系所取代。研究主要集中在白人异性恋女性身上；需要对南半球种族和性别少数群体以及中年妇女的经历进行研究。