Abstract
This article uses the social constructionist approach to social problems as claims-making activities and Blumer's theory of the developmental stages of social problems to analyze how elder abuse has been constructed as a social problem in Canada and how interest groups have been mobilized to deal with the alleged problem. Clearly, elder abuse has emerged as a social problem (often under the family violence rubric) and has received some legitimation from professional groups and representatives of government. Efforts to mobilize social action against elder abuse at a national level and to develop legislation and other policy initiatives have, however, so far met with mixed success. While elder abuse has been trumpeted by some claims-makers as a major new form of family violence, the absence of a strong elder lobby group and the absence of developed ideologies (e.g., feminism in the case of wife abuse and child sexual abuse) have resulted in elder abuse receiving much less attention than other problems grouped under the family violence rubric. Indeed, most of the legislation that presently exists in Canada deals not with the abuse of the elderly as a class but with the provision of services to dependent, incompetent adults whether they are elderly or not.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.