Despite growing awareness of sexual violence as a pervasive societal issue, the lived experiences of older adults remain conspicuously marginalized in research, policy, and clinical frameworks. While intersectional approaches to gender-based violence have reshaped advocacy and scholarship, age continues to be sidelined in these discourses. This oversight reinforces systemic invisibility and eclipses the compounded vulnerabilities of older women, whose realities are shaped by the convergence of structural ageism and systemic sexism. Such gaps undermine efforts to design equitable interventions that address gendered violence across the lifespan.
Nearly half of older adults report lifetime sexual victimization, with 8% experiencing it in the past year (Nobels et al., 2023). Contrary to enduring stereotypes, advanced age does not confer protection; in fact, physiological changes, cognitive decline, and social isolation often heighten vulnerability. However, fewer than 6% of survivors seek help and even fewer receive care tailored to age-specific needs (Nobels et al., 2023). Systemic underreporting is driven by a constellation of generational stigma, mobility limitations, dependency on caregivers (who may be perpetrators), and pervasive myths suggesting that older adults are asexual (Cook et al., 2011).
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