Section 1: RECOGNITION Module 6: Dynamics of family violence

1. Section 1: RECOGNITIONModule 6: Dynamics of family violence Respect Aging:Preventing Violence against Older Persons Violence Prevention Initiative

2. Agenda • Welcome • Brainstorming • Learning together: • Dynamics of family violence • Small group activity • Reporting back to whole group • Wrap-up / Evaluation

3. What is “family violence”? = all forms of violence that take place within the family where there are relationships of · kinship · dependency · trust

4. Violenceagainstolder persons isviewed in the context offamily violence.

5. Family Violence Protection Act Defines family violence as: • physical violence or the threat of violence • actions that are threatening or abusive

6. Family Violence Protection Act • Applies only to certain types of relationships: • conjugal, or • child under 19 • The Act provides for Emergency Protection Orders: • to protect adult victims and their children

7. The Roots of Family Violence • Family violence is the abuse of power and control in a family relationship. • Unequal power between groups • Stereotyping, discrimination and prejudice • “isms” • Societal tolerance for violence to solve problems

8. Violence can continue into old age • Acts of power and control take place across the lifespan: • Violence does not suddenly stop at some older age. • Violence does not suddenly begin with the vulnerabilities sometimes associated with older age.

9. Who is at risk of family violence? • Women • Children and youth • Older persons • People living in poverty • Immigrants and refugees • Aboriginal persons • Persons with disabilities • Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons • People living in rural regions • Any group outside the dominant culture

10. Perpetrators of family violence against older persons • Frequent contact • Intimate partners • Adult male children

11. Intimate partner violence • Marriage, dating or common-law • Heterosexual or same-sex • Single episode to long-term battering • Mostly by men against women • May get worse with age • May take on new forms

12. Intimate partner violence Important: • A long-term partner rarely begins to abuse in old age • If a long-time partner becomes violent, it may be due to some other reason such as dementia

13. Violence by adult children • Most frequent family abusers of older persons in the home • Adult child under 60 • Lives with/nearby • Dependency

14. Reasons for not telling • Shame, embarrassment, family loyalty • Believing that “you get what you deserve” • Fear of… • being sent to a “home” or an institution • the perpetrator • being left alone • Dependency on the perpetrator • The “normalization” of violence • Not being aware of options

15. Preventing family violence • Complex social problem • Requires holistic approach including: • education • raising awareness • developing social and life skills • involving individuals, families and communities

16. 1. Healthy relationships 6. Communication 2. Self-esteem Preventing family violence 5. Understanding family violence 3. Appreciating differences 4. Personal safety