Male Victims of Elder Abuse: Their Experiences and Needs
| Published date | 01 November 2001 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14668203200100028 |
| Pages | 42-43 |
| Date | 01 November 2001 |
| Author | Jonathan Parker |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Sociology |
42 © Pavilion Publishing (Brighton) Limited The Journal of Adult Protection Volume 3 Issue 4 • November 2001
Ever since Suzanne Steinmetz highlighted the extent of female
to male domestic violence in the late 1970s and the angry
debates that followed, little attention has been paid to
examining the experiences that men have of abuse. Certainly
in elder abuse, and we must beware of equating elder abuse
too strongly with domestic violence, it is generally recognised
that women experience abuse in greater numbers and to a
greater degree of severity. However, if we control for
demographic factors, the proportions increase (Pillemer &
Suitor, 1992). Pritchard’s book is, therefore, if only for the
above reasons, a most welcome addition to our knowledge of
elder abuse.
The book is short, a little over 100 pages, and rehearses
findings from a research study undertaken in the UK that
concerned, primarily, the experiences of older women
(Pritchard, 2000). Fortuitously, Pritchard found that many
men also wished to share their stories. This work acts as a
precursor, a first step from which other studies can be
conducted into the reality of abuse as experienced by older
men.
There are six chapters which concern an outline of the
focus of the study, the survey data and data collected from in-
depth interviews, the expressed needs of males who have
experienced abuse, a summary of the respondents now and
key practice issues. The book also contains an introduction,
which provides an overview and context of the area of elder
abuse. Elder abuse is recognised as long-standing but largely
ignored because of the negative social constructions of ageing.
The range of abusers from family members, to social and
health care staff to strangers, as well as abuse from the wider
perspective of society, is identified.
Pritchard claims the understanding of ‘victims’ as women
and children is too simplistic and derives from cultural norms
and stereotypes. This has led to a dismissal of research and
information in respect of abused men. Indeed, the research
reported here developed from a study into women’s
experiences. Of the 171 abused older people taking part in her
study of three areas, 39 were males aged between 60 and 99
Male Victims of
Elder Abuse: Their
Experiences and
Needs
Jacki Pritchard
London: Jessica
Kingsley, 2001
ISBN 185302 999 8
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