Title: Using Intersectionality to Understand Abuse against Elders: A Conceptual Examination
Abstract:Despite some recognition that older people can be victims, and the term ‘elder abuse’ (EA) often used to define the abuse of older people, it is a neglected area. Feminist research has long been at th...Despite some recognition that older people can be victims, and the term ‘elder abuse’ (EA) often used to define the abuse of older people, it is a neglected area. Feminist research has long been at the forefront of examining violence in women’s lives (Stanko, 1990). However, this has largely focused on younger women. Consequently, there is an absence of UK literature considering the potential of intersectional feminist theory in examining EA. This is despite calls for researchers to adopt an intersectional feminist lens for EA (Bows, 2018). Intersectionality recognizes that systems of power such as gender, race and class interconnect and are axes for analysis (Nash, 2008). Women are not a homogenous group, and their experiences of abuse are not limited to their gender alone (Crenshaw, 1991). Nevertheless, despite this awareness intersectionality has not been applied to EA (Bows, 2019). This chapter addresses this lacuna by providing a conceptual examination of the potential of intersectionality to analyse the connection between older age and abuse. It is argued that research adopting an intersectional lens would lead to a more nuanced understanding of EA, would be a more progressive way to advance social justice goals, and could help improve services responses.Read More
Publication Year: 2022
Publication Date: 2022-07-27
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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