Soc 502 Violence In The Famolay Exam Pt. 2

Front 1

Violence In Immigrant Fammilies

Prior to 1962 what was the selection criteria?

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Based on employment needs. The main reason was to hire people for jobs that no one wants to do.

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Since 1962 what is the selection criteria?to do.

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a. From 1962 to present is The points systemb. Based on education, work experience, age, language, arrangedemployment & adaptability.c. Min. 67 points needed to qualify

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Whyis the point system not neutral or objective?

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a. It’s choosing people who have money to become professionals. It isignores the lower class and poor. Ensures Canada gets the best.i

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Why is settlement in Canada stressful?

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Because they have to start fromscratch and do re-training, take courses, etc.They have trouble findingemployment.me?

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How does Canadian immigrant policy facilitatemale violence against women and children in immigrant families?

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a. * Immigrants since the 1970-1980s their experience has beendownward social mobility- take a job in which you make significantly low money,so now the man feels he lost patriarchal power, because he doesn’t have money,job, so now he becomes more controlling of his family and if they go againstwhat he says there’s violenceb. * so that’s how it creates patriarchal powerc. * now wife forced to do domestic labor in the family, she’s forcedto get out and get a black market job (cleaning, lady, nanny, cash job)d. * she can’t leave and if she goes to the shelter she needs to beback in 2 weeks otherwise she’d deported and they can’t go back because theysold everythinge. * almost no family class immigration anymore, business classimmigration happening specifically nowf. * how downward social mobility creates the situations for violenceg. * kids are also tied to the head of the householdh. * kids’ role in the family is also changed, they also operate asthe translatorsi. * gives the more power in the family, upsets the dynamics creatingchild abuse (children translating for parents at the bank)

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Whydo immigrant women stay in abusive relationships?

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6. They live in a patriarchal society so their abilityto leave is difficult. They are doubly victimized. - No family and the gov’tdoes not care. They also don’t know laws, regulations, policies work.

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Until Kempe’s study in 1962 how was child abuse viewed?

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Children were viewed as propertyand there was no limitation to abuse. They could beat their child until thepoint of death. They could transfer the rights of their property to teachers.Corporal punishment was expected. Protestantism viewed children as borninnocent, a blank slate.

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2. What are the types of child abuse?

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Physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, but big one: NEGLECT Neglect considered as the person(s) responsible for child not meeting basic needs (food, shelter, hygiene)

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Whyis spanking not considered child abuse?

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Spanking is the ONLY allowable abuse in the criminal code – section 43. “Spanking is still LEGAL b/c it’s NOT ILLEGAL” professor Train

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4. Prior to the 19th century, what were fathersallowed to do to their children?

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Beat them without reason or cause Beat them within an inch of their life, sell them, put them to work Sexually exploit them: sell them for sex, determine who they marry (arranged for financial purposes, daughters had no say)

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5. Prior to the 19th century, child rearingpractices reflected what philosophy?

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Biblical laws allowed you topractice infanticide, sell your children into slavery, into child marriage,prostitution and to beat your child to death. Female children were especiallyat risk for infanticide. It went on until the early part of the 20th Century.It was done especially in Europe.

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6. Whywas there little emotional attachment between parents and children prior to the19th century?

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Life expectancies of children much shorter - 1 out of 3 children survivedo

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Priorto the 19th century how were children viewed?

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They were viewed as property and a source of labour?

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8. By the middle of the 19th century, childrearing practices reflected what ideology or philosophy, what was happening inthe society?

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Public schooling; removed kids fromthe workplace thus allowed for a childhood.As industrialization and childlabour law and public school system. Delay ability to earn money and be selfsufficient.

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9. By the mid 19th century, parents started todevelop emotional attachment to their children, why? Filial crisis theory

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Weakened parent/child bond if mother does not attach properly in infancy Psychological theory: extension of attachment theory Blames elderly mother for failing to attach properly when child was an infant Supposedly explains why your child is emotionally detached and psychologically distant

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Bythe mid 19th century, how were children viewed?

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Rights were being given to children Started going to school - focus was on getting an education They started having a childhood

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8. By the middle of the 19th century, childrearing practices reflected what ideology or philosophy, what was happening inthe society?

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Public schooling; removed kids fromthe workplace thus allowed for a childhood.As industrialization and childlabour law and public school system. Delay ability to earn money and be selfsufficient. %

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9. By the mid 19th century, parents started todevelop emotional attachment to their children, why? Filial crisis theory

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Weakened parent/child bond if mother does not attach properly in infancy Psychological theory: extension of attachment theory Blames elderly mother for failing to attach properly when child was an infant Supposedly explains why your child is emotionally detached and psychologically distant

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10. By the mid 19th century, how were childrenviewed?

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Rights were being given to children Started going to school - focus was on getting an education They started having a childhood!

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11. What was Kempe’s study called (Giveaway)? Kempe

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Kempe StudyØ 1962 Kempe study – psychologicaldisorder from experiencenaming it as ABUSE -Name it: The Battered Child Syndromeeffect of physical violence on kids– battered child syndrome.First person who address to issueof beating the child as it might be bad– sociology

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Why is the family one ofthe most dangerous institutions for children?

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Children lack access to resources and rights They are minors, places them as financial, economic and legally dependent on their parents Highly vulnerable to abuse ve2

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13. Why does child abuse go unreported? number-7

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Most children don’t report abuse,physical and sexual abuse because they fear being taken away from theirparents and the other abuses are not considered as abuse.line'><9

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14. Why are men perpetrators of physical and sexualviolence?

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· men have more power·

men have power over women, children, in the family·

Patriarchal ideology

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Whyare women involved in neglect?

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women tend to be verbally abusiveof their kids because they are frustrated with their kids from doing child care(and elder care)

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Whyare poor families over-reported and middle class families under-reported?i

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Middle and upper class go underreported because they have access to resources, they are not surveilled by thepolice and social workers, schools don’t report them because they have accessto resources and even if they do report the parents turn around and sue theschool, live in upper class neighborhoods, but they don’t hesitate when it isfor low class and minorities

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What’swrong with all mainstream theories on child abuse?

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They only look at stats. Theyignore the middle and upper-class and focusses on the poor. As if the poor arethe only ones who abuse.

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What doesSOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL theory argue?

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Case by case basis thus parent must be mentally ill, depression’ Not looking at how broader social context, kids are powerless and lack social legal and economical status and spanking is seen as acceptable. Legal system allows child abuse

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3. What does SOCIAL LEARNING theory argue?

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If you are abused growing up and witnessed it you will become an abuser. Only looks at physical abuse Not looking at the fact that not everyone abuse do not abuse

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4. What does SOCIAL SITUATIONAL theoryargue?

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Parent who abuse learn from their family growing up (social learning) You also need the presence of stressor; poverty, illness, unemployment, divorce Theory assume that only people who have stress is poor people and not middle and upper middle class who often suffer from divorce and fear of losing things, illness

Problematic: ignore upper and middle class and only poor and working class abuse

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5. What does FEMINIST THEORY argue?l&

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Single head of household is re-victimized from being poor and losing kids to social service Looking at how women associated with neglect

Product of patriarchy –]and poverty Feminized work and daycare cost put women on poverty Single dad doesn’t reprimanded for sending kids to school with dirty clothes (e.g. ahh he tried his best) while the female is being blamed and scrutinized for neglecting her children

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6. What does ecology theory argue?

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Where you live? Neighbor and historical factor People relation to social organization, political system, religion, ideology, media Based on 2 concepts 1. The environment you leave has support and acceptance for the use of violence thus normalized in community – physical violence accepted in community 2. In addition to normalized; lack of access to resource, shortage of social assistance or extended family assistance. Problem: poor, racialized, immigrant Only looking at stats and explain it8bvrNpFM

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How do parents view sibling abuse?

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Parentsthink children are treated the same so no rivalry

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Whatdo young children fight over?

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8 y.o - material possessions, toys & parental attention 8 to `14 y.o - fight over personal space, privacy

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3. What do adolescents fight over?

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14-19 y.o -takeover adult responsibilities, don’t have freedom, fight over responsibilities

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4. How do females express sibling abuse?

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Verbal, emotional & psychological

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5. How do males express siblings abuse?ager";

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Physical violence

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Social Learning theorymargin?

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Most use this theory

You experience growing up thus you also do it when dealing with conflict Problem: assume that everyone who had physical violence will also do it.

Not looking at verbal

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2. Sex Role theory

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Gender roles Boy do masculinity by using physical violence against female sibling Anticipation that they will have the same relation with women later in life You learn it by watching father abuse mother Assumes that girls are submissive – only looking at physical Problem: Assumes girls are submissive and obedient Narrow definition of masculinity and femininity

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3. Social Exchange Theory/Social controltheory/Risk theory in criminology/ Rational choice theory

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· You go in situation and you make a rational choice on how tobehave and you look at what are the risks · determine that you can get away with it – then you will abusesince no consequences· Sibling abuse when they think that they can get away with it –social context

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4. Feminist Theory

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Don’t look at sibling abuse Use to look at power control theory Abuse used to exert power over a sibling where that child thinks that they are abusing the favorite child. (abusing the favorite child)

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Adolescent Abuse:

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Why are mothers more reported than fathers for adolescence abuse? Women associated with the motherly role, normative/expected they do the child rearing. Father not there for the important parental responsibilities

Chooses where to participate, and only partakes in “fun” stuff (playing with kids, coaching their sports teams etc.) Leads children to FAVOUR the father and RESENT the mother

Mothers are the ones around for all the tough times, being stressed and overworked can cause them to be abusive especially when they are not appreciated or recognized for all the “invisible” labour they do

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2. What is resource theory?"

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Argue that parents who lack adequate resources to deal with family conflict caused by both stresses within the family and stresses incurred outside the family (such as unemployment or poverty) may find themselves abusive when dealing with teenagers who challenge their authority

The lack of resources, such as money, combined with the demand for more resources by teenagers may cause parents who are unable to cope with these stresses to exhibit violent behaviour towards adolescents mso(v

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3. What is linkage theory

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Argue that as boys grow into adolescence, they are more likely to be abused because parents believe that they must treat their teenaged sons harshly to prepare them for the violence their parents believe they will encounter in their adult lives.

This theory is limited because it does not explain how adolescent girls would be the victims of parental violence. Linkage theory also is problematic because it does not address how women are likely to experience violence, especially sexual violence, in their adult lives.

Linkage theory does not address how parents who abuse their teenagers to prepare them for their adult lives do not also abuse their daughters and treat them with the same degree of harshness as they do their sons.

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4. Why is adolescent abuse usually directed atgirls?icons

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More focus on parental abuse of girls – parent more focused on constraining the girl’s sexual behavior. Curfews. Parent concern of daughter sexuality not the boy.

As boys get older 14 – they are bigger than parent and Girl – never stop – lifetime shape by violence {

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Parent Abuse

Why do parents deny that their children have abused them?

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Feel like inadequate parents, haven’t done their job properly… guilt and shame Also, don’t want to admit the abuse because they WANT their children to take care of them. By admitting abuse, it forces them to address the problem and be put in a home.

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2. Social Learning theory?

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When you’re young, and parents arenot old yet: You abuse to get your way. You abuse your parents to get them totake back control.

Really not a comprehensive concept, very limitedSays you abuse your parents because they abused you; “payback”

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Exchangetheory

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3. When family life becomes chaotic & familiesfail to assert control the adolescent kids are forced to take on the role. Theyare NOT equipped to take on this role.

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4. Sex role theory

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Masculinity shapes male violence as physical and sexual againstfemale siblings. This theory argues that the abuse against siblings is theconditions of what these males will be like in the future. Does not look at howgirls abuse.

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5. Feminist theory

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Theory recognizes that the people who do the abusing are womenWho is doing the abuse? And why are they doing the abuse?

Adult female children: because of gender division of labour and association of women with the home and caregiving, domestic responsibility falls entirely on women Sons are not asked to contribute anything, if the exception falls to financial support (which especially

NOW this is often money they don’t have) This form of abuse often manifests as abuse Women so overworked by the care of ALL the people in their life (their own children and family, grandkids, their parents, etc.) plus the load of work and unpaid domestic labour, the result is abuse

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Elder Abuse

Why are elderly women the recipients of abuse by their adult children?

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Daughters are the ones primarily taking care of the parents. Elderly women Average life expectancy for men, about 69-71 Avg for women, about 85 years. Elderly women are the ones left

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2. Why are the perpetrators primarily female adultchildren?

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Because of gender division of labour and association of women with the home and caregiving, domestic responsibility falls entirely on women Women so overworked by the care of

ALL the people in their life (their own children and family, grandkids, their parents, etc.) plus the load of work and unpaid domestic labour, the result is abuse The expectation is it is the woman’s responsibility to care for the family Female adult children “sandwich generation” looking after their own families, kids, but also their elderly parents

Daughters spend the most time with the elder parents Sons never around, and only expected to contribute financial support if anything at all. Adult daughters are relied upon for emotional and physical support

Overloaded with responsibility, a lot of stress, leads to abuse as a result of frustration r

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3. Why is elder abuse unreported?-fam

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Elderly don’t want to report abuse because: Fear of being removed from family and placed in a home or worse Scared that their children will resent and further abuse them, either by exercising their power over them or just choosing not to care for them at all In external care situations, old people have no friends/family left to confide in

Elders don’t know they are being abused or consider the behaviour abuse Neoliberal state policies facilitate elder abuse - service cuts central around subsidized caregiving, less funding for nurses. It is hard to prove elder abuse:

Physical: Old people are fragile, bruise easily, any signs of physical harm can be overlooked as natural part of aging Emotional, verbal,

psychological: hard to prove these. Old people are not taken seriously in society. Treated like children (further victimization) and disempowered by their caregivers taking over their decisions If they TRY to speak out, they are disregarded as mentally unwell (Alzheimer's, dementia, etc.)

Financial: they have no control over what happens to them once they’ve been deemed unstable, irrational, etc. This also applies to medical abuse

NEGLECT: Often not looked at, in the home it is private and ties into the lack of visibility of abuse. Often their basic needs are (somewhat) met, but they lack emotional, social support, and so their quality of life is lessened and people just don’t care because our society devalues elderly.

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Whydo ethnic families have less issues of elder abuse then anglo-canadianfamilies?

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Basic things to know: * elderly people are more appreciated in some ethnic cultures; * non-western cultures tend to be more family oriented - siblingsfeel equal contribution, parents feel they are well looked after… andneoliberal capitalist society is very individualistic – isolated

Studies done in 90’s looked at issue around ethnicity and elderabuseFour key factors:· Co-residency· families merging households soelderly live with adult children in order to care for them to take care ofparento Anglo-Canadian children did not like parentsreturning to live with them b/c invasion of privacyo Asian families, it is expected of you to carefor your family. Not seen as a bad thing but a norm in ethnic minority families·

Emotional supporto Anglo Canadian families, sons provide almost noemotional support to their parents. Emotional caregiving rested entirely withdaughterso Ethnic minority households, both sons anddaughters provide emotional support in different ways and capacities. Parentsand children not resent each othero Allows for higher standard of living, manypractical reasons·

Parent-child inequalitieso Anglo Canadian households, parents expectedmore support from children then they receivedo Ethnic minority families, parents felt theyreceived more than enough support. Meant emotional and physical support,not so much financial·

Inequality in siblingsupporto Anglo Canadian: siblings all resented eachother, each sibling thought they did more than the other siblingso Ethnic minority families: siblings felt allsiblings contributedImmigrant families starting with firstgeneration born in Canada, siblings start to adopt Canadian norms and values

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Social learning theory

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You were abused by your parents when young so now you abuse them Nobody use its theory

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Situational theory

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Looking at the situation When stress of taking care of parents is too much then you abuse them Focuses on caregiver role Does not look at social structures; only looks at micro levels Looks at interpersonal patterns of behaviour

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SymbolicInteractionist: [~

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Argues that both abusers and victims enter into a relationship, carrying with them internalized behaviours they learned from previous relationships, including the use of violent methods as a means of resolving conflict.

The abuser and the victim interact with each other on the basis of social status, such as age, gender, class, and in the role caregiver or patient. However, symbolic interactionists only see family violence as a product of interpersonal relations, and not a product of social structures of inequality SI is about reading people’s symbols when they act towards you, and responding accordingly In terms of family violence, it’s about pre-patterned behaviour.

You don’t wait to read symbols, you just automatically react – because you’ve known them your entire life. How you act towards parents based on pre-patterned behaviour

CRITICISMS

Lots of abused children do NOT abuse their elderly parents, in fact they still respect them Focuses entirely on individuals, not looking at broader social structures like racism, patriarchy, neoliberalism, etc. Maria’s added notes:Focusing on the caregiverStress of taking care of elderlyparent becomes too much, you abuse themStresses not necessarily related toparent care, more so about other factors of stress in life (substance abuse,work trouble, etc.)But this is not enough to explainhow someone comes to abusePrimarily blames the individual…à Ex. nursing homes with too manypatients and not enough nurses; high volume of workload leads to inevitableneglect Ex. assistant to seven lawyers, complains to HR and gets bullied intostaying or leaving with no change =

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VictimDependency Theory

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This theory assumes that the elderly victim is ENTIRELY DEPENDENTin EVERY WAY on their caregiver. Renders the caregiver powerless - in the sensethat cannot leave or escape situation. Elderly abuse is the only way torelieve his or her powerlessness by punishing the elder.

Biggest theory Problematic: explicit to context – no access to resources Elderly is entirely dependent on their children to care for them – financially, emotionally and physically Doesn’t look at gender Late 50-60 people who came of age there not today Kids able to get to university and work but not the same wage as parents who did better than them Kids don’t have enough saving to take care of parents Speaks to people who made money post WWII who take care of parent Adults abuse parents because they have full control and power

Problems? Explicit to a particular context This theory assumes elderly people cannot support themselves and that they have no access to economic resources and are entirely dependent

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Caregiver Dependency Theory

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What’s the main difference between Victim Elder Dependencyand Caregiver Dependency? The elder has financial resources and the Caregiver is MOREdependent on the elder as opposed to the elder on caregiver.

The adult child caregiver rely on finances which their elderly parent have, but the elderly parent relies on the child for physical and emotional support. Need the money NOW to support them, and also in hopes of getting the money after they’re gone. Theory says adult child has power, and uses the power to abuse an elder for financial purposes

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Feminist theory (ELDER MANS)

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Ø LesserelderØ Recognizedthat women do the abuseØ Looking atin case of women who take care of husband – live time of abuse now that he isin a vulnerable position, its pay back time – emotional, physicallyØ Dynamic ofpatriarchyØ Sandwich –gender division of labour – sole responsibility of women thus female adultchildren who did the emotional and physical, son is financial supportMore neglect instead of physicalToday parents are the ones with the moneyØ sooverwhelmed of having to do so much work for everyone so they abuseØ patriarchalstructure who make them be solely responsibleØ Neoliberalstate policy facilitates abuse- cut to elderly care- less nursing home care –cut to community nursing care – health for seniors –Cut to tax 1% elite means that the corporation don’t get cut butinstead social service that women needs.

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2. Symbolic interaction theory

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Ø DON’T lookat social structureOnly looks at micro levelinteractions: Interpersonal pattern of interaction by reading what people aresayingØ Pre-patternedbehaviorØ AutomaticreactionIncludes use of violence as a meansof solving conflictØ Problem: lot ofkids who were abuse don’t abuse parentsFocus on individual and not looking at patriarch, neoliberalism,bigger structure Age, gender, class, and in role of caregiver or patient … howeverSI sees family violence as product of interpersonal relations, not the socialstructure of inequality. Identifies root cause of elder abuse as totally individualistic Maria’s added notes: Does not look at social structures; only looks at micro levels Looks at interpersonal patterns of behaviour SI is about reading people’s symbols when they act towards you, and responding accordingly In terms of family violence, it’s about pre-patterned behaviour. You don’t wait to read symbols, you just automatically react – because you’ve known them your entire life

How you act towards parents based on pre-patterned behaviour

CRITICISMS· Lots of abused children do NOTabuse their elderly parents, in fact still respect them· Focuses entirely on individuals,not looking at broader social structures like racism, patriarchy,neoliberalism, etc.

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What’s wrong with personal interventionist solutions?

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a. Re-victimizing the victimb. Counselling very expensive if it is not given when in womenshelters

c. Family systems approach: abuser never acknowledges his abuse

d. Reconstructive approach: 3 stages- i.1st stage: individual counsellingii.2nd Stage: Non-abusive (mother) and the child get treated together, - focus to mend therelationship and bond between the non-abusive parent and the childiii.3rd stage: abusers never accept responsibility for theirabusee. family systems and reconstructive approach both focus on how tokeep the family together.

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2. What are the forms of personal interventionistsolutions

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a. Counselling

b. Family systems approach

c. Reconstructive approach

d. Therapy (anger management)

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3. What’s wrong with mandatory charging policy?

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a. Officers were forced to charge which is why in the past they chargedboth the victim and the abuser, but now they charge one person and most oftenit’s the victim that gets charged because if she scratches or attacks theabuser to protect herself and the police comes at that moment they will arrestthe woman

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4. Why do feminists reject the idea of womenconfronting their abuser?

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a. Re-victimizes the victim

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Howdo mainstream social therapists approach family counselling?

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a. That the family is nuclear, focus is on keeping the familytogetherb. Mainstream social therapists come from patriarchal, middle classgazec.

Does not challenge the social structures but maintains anindividualist problem“What would a rational man do?

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2. What are feminist criticisms of mainstreamapproaches?

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a. Revictimization

b. Abuser does not get treatment, abuse continues

c. Family cannot be back together until abuser acknowledges hiswrongdoings which doesn’t happen so nothing ever gets fixedd. Therapy is very expensive, disadvantages lower /working classfamilies who tend to be highlighted in family violence discourse

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3. What is the first agency called in cases ofchild abuse?

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a. The first agency to be called in case of child abuse is CAS

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4. What professionals are required to report?"

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a. Teachers, guidance counsellors, doctors, nurses· Victims self-determinationshould be a priority

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5. What’s wrong with mandatory reporting of childabuse?

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a. There has been false reporting due to the fear of being charge andlosing their licenceb. More serious cases are not looked at due to the high volume of thenot so important casesc. Led to a lot of unfounded casesd. Reporting associated with low socioeconomic communitiese. Targets certain groups:

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6. Why were Aboriginal run social service agenciesestablished?

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Fix residential school and 60 scoop issueØ Establishment of aboriginal runchild protection agencySpecifically establish so indigenous would not be place with WhiteparentsOnly recently, that trained worker are provided –

Not able toprotect kids since staff not trained properly and couldn’t deal with needs ofkids.Not making the condition of life better since condition of lifegoes down

Norm that parent doesn’t receive counseling or rehabilitationMajor issue: removal done by white middle class on basis ofneglect – kids and parent re-victimize from being poor.

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Elder, Parent, Sibling Abuse and Social Change

What do all professionals need to keep in mind when dealing with family abuse cases?

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Intervention and removal of child does not ensure a better life or safety from abuse Not just physical or sexual but can also be mental, emotional, psychological·

Individual’s rights must not be unduly trespassed upon, regardless of how well-meaning professionals might be. Professionals must not arbitrarily decide o remove victim or perpetrators against the will of the parties involved. They must not attempt to keep victims or perpetrators from returning to their relationship if that is what they want. Despite frustration over repeated scenes of abuse between the same parties, they must at all times recall that people have the right to determine their own fates if they are legally and mentally competent to do so. ·

Until he or she is ready to do so of her or his own volition, no professional not matter how caring and concerned should attempt to force her or him to leave the relationship. ·

This can result in possible greater damage to victims

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2. What is wrong with family interventionstrategies?

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re-victimizes them by placing the child with the abuser because they have to sit across from their abuser and then go home with their abuser, they are against the family system approach

family systems approach: treats the family as a unit, main focus to keep the family together, however the abuser never acknowledges his mistakes but blames the victims Intervention must be careful not to alienate individuals from the other members of their family or from others in their lives. · Removing siblings, children or elders from their home and family environment may sever their other relationships. The ones left behind may begin to feel ashamed that they did not stop the abuse etc, which may have a corrosive effect on them or on their relationship with the removed party · Family relationships may break down as a result, and consequently the removed party will have less family support. · Harsh legislative measures (eg, removal, mandatory reporting or persecution) may this exacerbate family violence rather than remedy it. Any sort of interventions or legal sanction should serve as a reminder to professionals and the general public about the need for sensitivity.

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3. What legislative reforms have been enacted toprotect elderly people?

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Legislation does not prevent violence, it’s reactionary. Focus of most legislation surrounding elder abuse looks at nursing homes, and non-familial caregivers. McDonald argues that the Criminal Code of Canada offers limited usefulness in dealing with mistreatment of the elderly. Their limitation is due to the fact they can only deal with provable cases of abuse and therefore do nothing to facilitate prevention. Legislation is reactive rather than proactive.

All provinces and territories in Canada have enacted legislation to specifically deal with abuse of the elderly and dependent adults. These laws are collectively known as “adult guardianship and adult protection legislation”. Drawback of this is legislation treats the elderly like their children and its problematic and insulting.

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1980’s: 2nd Wave of Guardianship

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Focused on abuse and neglect. Health and social service professionals could intervene wherever neglect & abuse were suspected. Allowed for forcible intervention: Retain restraining orders against abusers This INCLUDES SELF NEGLECT (not caring for the self) Elderly who are PHYSICALLY INCAPABLE of taking care of themselves, like bathing, associated with NOT being of SOUND MIND. Problem? These laws denied elderly people full legal and civilrights because they were treated like children. The state made medical,financial decisions – bureaucrats who have no idea who you are or how to meetyour needs.t

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****Guardianships

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Were specifically set up as adult protection legislation. Therewas No such thing until the 1970’s when baby boomers start to see parentsage and it becomes a problem for them. 1976: Albertapassed legislation stating that mental competency would not be entirelymedically assessed but rather how they make informed decisions. Guardians hadpower but only for specified time, outlined in guardianship application. Problem? Itdoes not deal with issues of abuse or neglect.tom:0]8

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1990s:3rd wave guardianship

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can take full control, demoted the power and control that social services and professional guardianships … allowed to voluntarily report elder abuse, but not mandatory also allows for seniors without a social network (family, friends) to choose someone to provide them with support and assistance – NOT court ORDERED guardianship

Problem? Elders subject to a lot of intrusions intheir life; surveillance

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Criticisms of legislative reforms

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Assessments in 70s (move away from medical) are still used today even though seemed to believe otherwise.

Assessments of a sound mind, even us in this class could fail them… not a good measure of how mentally well someone is.

Present day guardianship: elders subject to a lot of intrusions in their life, surveillance Elderly people can be placed under guardianship UNLESS they OBJECT but to do that they would have to know that they are being placed under guardianship, which means you can be placed under guardianship against your will.

Elders can refuse to take guardianship, but this REQUIRESthat YOU KNOW they are being placed under guardianship. Often youare placed there against your will. Prosecuting persons found to be abusers, little attention paid to own victimization – also being abused by that elderly person.

As losing faculties, get angry or anxious (results in being put on meds) When not anxious, manifest in aggression physically and verbally… Caregivers then also become subject to a lot of abuse.

CYCLE OF VIOLENCE. Guardians, should something happen to you, have to make decisions on your behalf. Will they make choices that are in your best interest?Example: kids as beneficiaries of your assets after you die, putyou in cheaper caregiving to have more $ for themselves later

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4. What are alternative solutions? (Elder Abuse)

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Other potential solutions: Interventions (that don’t actuallyexist)

Group Homes: Also called nursing homes Elderly still get to be independent and make own decisions while still getting GOOD and AFFORDABLE care.

Problem? Affordable care is made impossible by socialservice cutsEducation: Learn what abuse is/looks like Understand the kind of options they have Find out how they might mitigate their own abuse

Community support groups: hotlines,drop-in centers allowing for elderly activities, source of network inrelationships/well-being, but also for support like professionals forcounseling, therapy, someone to talk to or seek out for life assistance

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5. What do all alternative solutions require?

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It’s NOT JUST about MONEY, but also social and cultural capital ability to know, find out, gain access to services that can be provided to you… like a physiotherapist, nutritionist, etc. It’s about knowing who to call, what to ask them.

AGENCY: having power and control over yourself and the decisions you make · The court systems take over for the victims, dictating their life · Family members will do the same, and social service workers/professionals When you treat elders like children, you victimize them. Elderly people need to be empowered (as do ALL victims of abuse) – by using their own agency and (re)gaining control over their lives.What they lack in agency they compensate for by being abusers themselves, manifests as a cycle of victimization