Financial Exploitation of Older Women: A Case Analysis Using the Struggle for Recognition Theory

Abstract

This article aims to make a theoretical contribution to the field of mistreatment of older adults by introducing Honneth's Struggle for Recognition theory in order to document financial mistreatment of older women. Through a case analysis of an older woman financially exploited by her son, considering self-agency and structure, it shows how financial mistreatment disrespects the three components of Honneth's theory, primary relationships, legal relations, and community of value. Personal integrity, social integrity, and honor and dignity are threatened by mistreatment. This case analysis opens for further theoretical exploration of the Struggle for Recognition theory in the understanding of mistreatment of older adults.

The state of theory in elder family financial exploitation: A systematic review

“…Collectively, the identified articles addressed four broad EFFE topics. The most commonly addressed topics were (a) perception/defining of EFFE ( n = 4; Lee & Eaton, 2009; Lee et al, 2012; Lee et al, 2013; Setterlund et al, 2007), (b) risk and protective factors for victims and perpetrators ( n = 7; Bagshaw et al, 2013; Beaulieu et al, 2015; Betz‐Hamilton & Vincenti, 2018; DeLiema, 2018; Knight et al, 2016; Mukherjee, 2013; Zannettino et al, 2015), (c) impacts on family systems ( n = 2; Petrusic et al, 2015; Vincenti et al, 2014), and (d) challenges in reporting EFFE ( n = 2; Adams et al, 2014; Wendt et al, 2015).…”

“…The Struggle for Recognition Theory posits that social conflicts between at least two individuals occur as a result of asymmetrical social relations or inequalities, whereas social confrontations are moral patterns of a struggle for recognition. Beaulieu et al (2015) was the only identified EEFE study to apply the Social Recognition Theory lens when introducing a single case analysis of a widow financially exploited by her son. Beaulieu et al (2015) considered self‐agency and social structure, illustrating how financial mistreatment disrespected the close, trusted parent–child relationship; denied the elder victim's legal rights; and threatened the dignity of the elder victim.…”

“…Beaulieu et al (2015) was the only identified EEFE study to apply the Social Recognition Theory lens when introducing a single case analysis of a widow financially exploited by her son. Beaulieu et al (2015) considered self‐agency and social structure, illustrating how financial mistreatment disrespected the close, trusted parent–child relationship; denied the elder victim's legal rights; and threatened the dignity of the elder victim. The framing of the theory in Beaulieu et al's (2015) discussion contributes a novel understanding of situations with cumulative structural inequities (e.g., gendered roles, family ties, financial literacy, and mental health) and recognizes the role of an older adult's rights and limits within the legal and justice systems.…”

“…A Struggle for Recognition lens could be used to explore gender, age, and self‐agency as sources of conflicts involved in EFFE as one subtype of elder abuse. Although Beaulieu et al (2015) focused on examining parent–adult child recognition struggles, the same theoretical assumptions could be applied to additional types of family relationships relevant to EFFE experiences (e.g., siblings, in‐laws, grandchild–grandparent, nonperpetrator family members).…”

Idosos de Baixa Renda, Violência Financeira e Crédito: O olhar da Transformative Consumer Research

“…Em complemento, como a aposentadoria representa uma fonte de renda para milhares de famílias, o idoso permanece na função de provedor da família, mesmo com filhos adultos, casados e com filhos, residindo ou não na casa dos pais. Esse padrão familiar pode perpetuar até o fim de suas vidas, colocando o idoso, cada vez mais, na situação de ter que distribuir sua aposentadoria ou pensão entre os seus familiares (Adams et al, 2014;Beulieu, Crevier, D´Amours, & Diaz, 2015;Castle et al, 2015;Harries, Davies, Gilhooly, & Tomlinson, 2014;Harries, Yang, Davies, Gilhooly, & Thompson, 2014). Além disso, a vulnerabilidade pode ser maior em casos de isolamento, solidão, perdas recentes de parentes, desemprego na família, deficiência física ou mental, embora não haja um comportamento homogêneo, podendo atingir homens e mulheres de diferentes classes sociais (Irigary, Esteves, Pacheco, Grassi-Oliveira, & Argimon, 2016).…”