admin
SEXUAL assault, which includes rape, is a brutal and demeaning act of violence committed without regard for the victim. It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender or background.
The sexual abuse and rape of older persons is a subject rarely discussed but is a reality. There is always the risk of neglecting older women in the discourse on women’s rights and in the campaigns around sexual victimisation.
Research has shown that in older adults, however, manifestations of these consequences are rarely recognised or linked to sexual victimisation. Although research shows that sexuality remains important in older age, older adults are frequently considered “asexual” in policies and practices.
This assumption of asexuality may further enhance the risk of ignoring that older women can be sexually victimised and in need of tailored care. In contrast to the increasing research on abuse and neglect of the elderly, sexual violence in older adults remains a largely under-researched area.
Social isolation also can make it harder for older women to disclose abuse for fear of losing companionship or being seen as a burden. One of the challenges of sexual abuse in older women is the perpetuation of the myth that it’s mainly carried out by strangers. Sadly, most abusers are family members, relatives or other confidants typically in caring positions.
In one section of this edition, we carried a shocking story of a 72-year-old woman from Mgadla Village in Matabeleland South province who was allegedly abused by her granddaughter’s 22-year-old ex-lover as payment for a debt.
The elderly woman sobbed as she narrated how a young man broke into her house at midnight and raped her. She said while he was abusing her, the perpetrator claimed her granddaughter owed him money. The perpetrator left at dawn, promising to return later that week.
As if that is not enough, we also recently carried a story of two young men, Lungile Ndebele (23) and Musa Ndlovu (21), from Plumtree, who broke into the home of a 76-year-old woman, assaulted and raped her. The attack extended over hours, and they also violently attacked her two grandchildren, who fled in terror.
These cases serve as a graphic illustration that although older women are faced with several challenges that are linked to biological aging, including physical and cognitive impairment, we argue that they are not suddenly exempted from sexuality nor being prone to sexual violence exposure.
Abusers may target older women because they perceive them as weaker or less likely to fight back. In that regard, older women should be considered as much female as women of other ages with specific vulnerabilities and risks of sexual victimisation.
There is a need to call for increased attention to older women in research, policies, and health practices. This is because older adults may not be aware of resources available to help them if they experience sexual violence. It’s also important to raise awareness about sexual violence against older women and ensure they have access to support services.
Online Reporter