Violence Against Older Women
An act of violence that could cause physical or psychological harm or sufferingDomestic Violence Line: 1800 65 64 63
In the international debate on responses to family and domestic violence, one group—older women—has consistently disappeared.
Older women suffer from the double jeopardy of both gender-based violence and abuse of older people, or the intersection between sexism and ageism.
“The systemic barriers to disclosure make it difficult to understand the reality of violence that older women face.“
Our report looks at issues of violence against older women.
%
1 in 3 Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15
Source: Our Watch
%
Up to 80% of assaults against older women reported to the police were committed by a known person in any one year
%
Up to 50% of assaults against older women reported to the police were committed by a family member in any one year
Violence against women, whether it occurs in public or private, is a gender-based act that results in, or could result in, physical and/or psychological harm or suffering to one woman or more than one woman.
Such acts can include the threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
Gender-based violence and the abuse of older people remain separated in research and practice, making the problem of violence against older women invisible on the policy front with few specific interventions.
Violence against women is underreported. The systemic barriers to disclosure make it difficult to understand the reality of violence that older women face.
#InHerShoes
OWN NSW, in partnership with the Opal Institute, are running the #InHerShoes and #WalkWithHer project.
The #InHerShoes project is a research, narrative and awareness-raising project documenting the responses to older women (and their families) who report sexual assault as an older woman (aged 65+).
It documents the experience from the older woman’s perspective so that we can identify strategies to improve responses as a concrete way to prevent sexual assault.
The #WalkWithHer project encourages everyone to take a photo of their feet and to share it on social media with the hashtag, as an act of solidarity with older women who have been sexually abused, but who have not been heard, or received justice.
If you or someone you know have experienced sexual abuse, and you would like to participate in an interview, please contact us.
The sexual abuse of older women is an often misunderstood and under-reported form of elder abuse. Learn how older women are discriminated against when reporting their assault experiences and how this often prevents them from receiving the help they need.
Help us continue to support older women.
Older Women’s Network NSW
The Older Women’s Network in NSW believes in a society rich in social capital, where mutual respect and trust are paramount, where diversity and debate are valued and where people and their networks have a legitimate voice.
CONTACT US
Older Women’s Network NSW
8-10 Victoria Street,
Newtown NSW 2042, Australia.
+61 – 2 – 9519 8044
Newsletter
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.
We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
OWN NSW supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the call for a First Nation's Voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution and a Makarrata Commission to oversee agreement-making and truth-telling.