In this exploratory study of qualitative nature, the objective was to investigate the perception of twelve elderly men that freely accepted to participate of the investigation after received information about its purposes and operational procedures. The gathering of data was accomplished under a semi-structured recorded interview. In the analysis of the empirical material was used the approach of speech analysis. As for the results, it was verified that some elderly see their body's young. The others, said to possess weakened bodies by diseases and limitations that interfere in their daily functions. Besides that, only in a very small way, these elderly express worry with appearance. Their first complains are about lost of power, vigor and physical force, i.e., the lost of culturally elaborated and socially sanctioned attributes as essential characteristics of manliness.
Body; Aging; Men; Elderly