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Section 1: RECOGNITION

Module 4: Gender dynamics

of violence against older persons

Violence Prevention Initiative

Respect Aging:Preventing Violence against Older Persons

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Agenda• Welcome• Brainstorming• Learning together:

• Gender dynamics of violence against older persons

• Small group activity • Reporting back to whole group• Wrap-up / Evaluation

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Gender and violence

• Most victims of violence are women.

• Most perpetrators of violence are men.

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• ~8,500 Canadians 65yrs+ were the victim of a violent crime (2011)

• 34% were victimized by family• 1 in 5 were victimized by an acquaintance • 27% were victimized by a stranger

• A grown child was 1.5 times higher than a spouse to victimize an older person

• More older females victimized by a spouse than older males.

Perpetrators…

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Victims…• Older women:

• majority of victims of sexual /physical violence• higher rates of family violence• more likely to be victimized by spouse,

ex-spouse or adult child

• Older men:• higher rate of reported violent crime• more likely to be victimized by a person outside the

family

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Gender and ageism

• Ageism: negative stereotyping, prejudice or discrimination against older people based on age

• older persons seen as weak, dependent • a factor in gender violence against older persons

• Adult sons: power based on gender and on not being old

• Older persons tend to be harmed by adult sons

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Older female victims of violence•Murdered by spouse or son•Emotionally or financially abused•Family homicide doubled•Poverty•Live longer•More chronic disease •Greater risk of injury from violence

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Older male victims of violence

• ~40% of all older victims of violence (2011)

• Murdered by son

• Victimized by an acquaintance or stranger

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