ageism; aînés; maltraitance; mistreatment; older adults; sexual violence; violences sexuelles; âgisme; Health (social science); Gerontology; Geriatrics and Gerontology
Abstract :
[en] This article examines society’s view of sexual violence in old age, by exploring ageism as a factor that could explain the current perception of later life sexuality and sexual violence against older adults. Although sexual violence is a widely studied topic internationally, there is little research focusing on older adults. Depending on the perspective and discipline, the prevalence of sexual violence against older adults ranges from 0.9 to 15 percent. Like younger populations, older people who have experienced sexual violence are also at greater risk of secondary victimization if their testimony is not believed. Secondary victimization consists in reliving the trauma via an event related or unrelated to the original trauma. Healthcare professionals are not trained to receive, identify, and refer their older patients who are victims of sexual violence. This article concludes by proposing several avenues for reflection regarding the model of a society in which we would like to live and grow old.
Research Center/Unit :
ESPRIst-ULiège
Disciplines :
Social, industrial & organizational psychology
Author, co-author :
Cismaru Inescu, Adina ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Adaptation, Résilience et CHangement (ARCH)
Hahaut, Bastien ; Université de Liège - ULiège > > Emancipation sociale, Santé des Populations, Réduction des Inégalités sociales dans des sociétés en transition (ESPRIst)
Berg, Nicolas; CHU de Liège, Belgium
Adam, Stéphane ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Psychologie > Psychologie de la sénescence et du vieillissement
Beaulieu, Marie; École de travail social, Université de Sherbrooke, Titulaire de la Chaire de recherche sur la maltraitance envers les personnes aînées, Canada
Nisen, Laurent ; Université de Liège - ULiège > > Emancipation sociale, Santé des Populations, Réduction des Inégalités sociales dans des sociétés en transition (ESPRIst)
Language :
French
Title :
L’occultation de la violence sexuelle envers les personnes âgées Une manifestation d’âgisme ?
Alternative titles :
[en] The hidden sexual violence against older adults: A manifestation of ageism?
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