Elderly victims of gender violence in Portugal: Invisible and not heard?
In this article, we explore professionals' representations of elderly female victims of gender violence. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore seven professionals' work philosophies and intervention methodologies in their work with elderly female victims of violence, their main problems and difficulties, and their perspectives regarding shelters for elderly women. Results show that there are no specific philosophies and methodologies to intervene with these victims. There is a tendency to homogenize all the victims of gender violence, regardless of their age and specific needs. The professionals also tended to trivialize gender violence against elderly female victims, considering that these women tolerate violence.
a Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
Maria José
MJ
Magalhães
b Faculty of Sciences of Education, University of Vigo , Ourense , Spain.
Yolanda
Y
Rodríguez Castro
b Faculty of Sciences of Education, University of Vigo , Ourense , Spain.
Patricia Alonso
PA
Ruido
a Faculty of Psychology and Sciences of Education, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal.
Rita DeOliveira
RD
Braga Lopez
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D017579:Domestic Violence; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011174:Portugal; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology*