Preventing Sexual Violence against Older Women

Abstract

Despite the vast amount of sexual violence research, there exists an important gap in knowledge around older victims and offenders. Internationally, the focus of academic research, policy and practice has been on young women who are consistently found to be most 'at risk' of experiencing sexual violence. Consequently, we know very little about the extent, nature and impacts of sexual violence for older adults. The 'real rape' stereotype of the young, white attractive woman who is raped by a young stranger, often at night in a public place, has contributed to the exclusion of older victims and the denial that sexual violence occurs across the life course. Furthermore, the majority of prevention initiatives and campaigns have often exacerbated and reinforced the 'real rape' stereotype. Drawing on the first national study to examine sexual violence against older people in the UK, this chapter presents the findings from qualitative interviews with practitioners working in sexual violence organisations (n=23), age-related organisations (n=4) and older survivors (n=3) to examine challenges and opportunities for preventing, and responding to, sexual violence in later life.