Breaking the Taboo: Sexual Assault in Late Life as a Multifaceted Phenomenon—Toward an Integrative Theoretical Framework

Abstract

Sexual assault (SA) in late life has been receiving growing attention over the past two decades. It is directed primarily against older women and has been the least frequently reported form of abuse. Despite the growing awareness and body of knowledge on this phenomenon, the theoretical framework is still limited. Therefore, the aim of the present article is to suggest a theoretical conceptualization of the multifaceted phenomenon of sexual assault against women in late life (SAWLL). This conceptualization has been developed through several stages: (a) identification of three grounded fields of inquiry that are relevant to SAWLL: SA, elder mistreatment, and intimate partner violence; (b) classification of SAWLL along four paths: (1) ongoing SA in the context of lifelong IPV; (2) SA beginning in old age in the family within the community, involving spouses, family members, caregivers, dating mates, and so on; (3) ongoing SA, continuing in institutions, perpetrated by family members; and (4) SA in institutions, beginning in old age, relating to staff, residents, and family members; (c) We suggest three additional theoretical perspectives: trauma, a life-course perspective, and social constructionism, which provide further in-depth knowledge for understanding SAWLL. The combination of the three abovementioned stages composes an integrative theoretical framework, addressing SAWLL as a multifaceted phenomenon.

Between sexual assault and compassion: The experience of living with a spouse’s dementia-related hypersexuality—A narrative case-study

“…It aimed to explore the subjective meaning of older women, aged 60 and above, who have been exposed to sexual assault behaviors during old age (either as ongoing sexual assault over the life course or as a new phenomenon which began in old age). The present article is one of a series of products of the larger research project on SAWLL (e.g., Band-Winterstein et al, 2021; Goldblatt et al, 2020; Lev et al, in press). One of the paths of SAWLL refers to women in late life who begin to experience sexual assault in old age within the family.…”

“…One of the paths of SAWLL refers to women in late life who begin to experience sexual assault in old age within the family. A specific category of this path is women in late life who reside with and provide care for their spouses, who have dementia accompanied by hypersexual behaviors (Band-Winterstein et al, 2021). As mentioned, spouses report that hypersexuality is one of the most distressful symptoms to cope with (Lawlor, 2002; Thompson et al, 2010; Wallace & Safer, 2009).…”

“…Spouses often feel embarrassed to talk about this problem with physicians or other professionals in order to seek help (Wornell, 2014). The intersection of old age, couple relationships, caregiving, dementia, and hypersexuality raises the question of whether sexual assault has occurred in such situations, and whether it relates to the phenomenon of sexual assault in late life (SALL) (Band-Winterstein et al, 2021). On the one hand, the woman perceives herself as being sexually assaulted; on the other hand, she recognizes her spouse’s inability to control his disturbing behaviors toward her.…”

The Lived Experience of Older Women Who Are Sexually Abused in the Context of Lifelong IPV

“…Alternately, "hands-off" offenses include exhibitionism, sexual jokes and comments, showing the victim pornography, or voyeuristic activity (Teaster et al, 2015, p. 2). This typology captures the multifaceted nature of the phenomenon when it comes to late life (Band-Winterstein et al, 2019). The transition from hands-on to hands-off sexual assault also echoes the life course concepts of continuity and change across the life course (Carbone-Lopez et al, 2012).…”

“…Sexual violence is the least frequently reported and substantiated form of elder abuse (National Center on Elder Abuse, 2006;Ramsey-Klawsnik et al, 2008;Yon et al, 2017). It is defined as "Any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, or other act directed against a person's sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting" (WHO, 2017), and it is often categorized as physical abuse rather than a separate category or subcategory of abuse (Band-Winterstein et al, 2019). However, in some studies of elder abuse, sexual violence was reported as part of the exploration.…”