PAWS for thought: the hidden MAWFIA (Men Ageing Without Family: Isolated and Alienated)

Hadley, Robin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4254-7648 (2025) PAWS for thought: the hidden MAWFIA (Men Ageing Without Family: Isolated and Alienated). British Society of Gerontology.

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Abstract

In 2026 the Bayeux Tapestry returns to the UK for the first time for over 900 years. According to historians on the Rest is History Podcast, the tapestry records the event that changed the history of Europe. The tapestry starts with the death of the childless Edward the Confessor (1003-1066) whose lack of a biological heir, familial, and relational tensions led to the Norman invasion. Fast forward to the present day, imagine an intricate tapestry recording the demographics of the countries of the world. At least one-third of its threads, though crucial to its structure, are deliberately hidden, ignored, or downgraded in its description and preservation, which is the situation of people ageing without support (PAWS) as evidenced by the increase in the number of people found long after they have died. The discourse surrounding ageing frequently highlights the importance of social support, particularly from family networks. However, a significant, yet overlooked, demographic faces unique challenges: the growing population of Men Ageing Without Family: Isolated and Alienated (MAWFIA). Their struggles and societal invisibility have profound implications for individuals and public policy.