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Article
Older Women’s Descriptions and Understandings of Their Abusers
Violence Against Women
  • Therese M. Zink, Wright State University - Main Campus
  • C. Jeffrey Jacobson
  • Saundra L. Regan
  • Bonnie S. Fisher
  • Stephanie Pabst
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2006
Abstract

Thirty-eight women who were in abusive relationships since age 55 years were interviewed to understand their abuse stories, ways of coping, and health care experiences. In responding to these questions, women described the nature of the abuse perpetrated by their elderly partners and tried to “make sense” of what they had experienced and to define “who” these men were. This took various forms, from personal theories about aging, to labels (ethnic stereotyping, demonizing, pathologizing) to characterizations of the abuser’s private versus public behaviors. The authors explore the implications these findings have for assisting the elderly victim and perpetrator.

DOI
10.1177/1077801206292680
Citation Information
Therese M. Zink, C. Jeffrey Jacobson, Saundra L. Regan, Bonnie S. Fisher, et al.. "Older Women’s Descriptions and Understandings of Their Abusers" Violence Against Women Vol. 12 Iss. 9 (2006) p. 851 - 865 ISSN: 1077-8012
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/therese_zink/100/