Speaking the Unspeakable: Narratives of domestic abuse and survival from older women

Domestic abuse in later life is a prevalent and complex issue, but little is known about how older victims-survivors talk about and describe their experiences, or how this language relates to the ‘professional’ language of abuse. This study aimed to understand and analyse the language used by older victims-survivors of domestic abuse when talking about their experiences and help-seeking behaviour, recognising the influence of historical, social, and political contexts. Using unstructured interviews with three older victims-survivors of domestic abuse, the research applied Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to examine their narratives. The findings highlight that participants often used a ‘coded language of abuse’, tending not to use professional terms unless these were validated by professionals. Recognition of abuse was shaped by dominant norms, particularly the understanding of abuse as being physical violence. The findings also showed the role of professional and institutional discourse as gatekeepers, highlighting the fundamental role that professionals played in (de)legitimising experiences. As a worked example of applying CDA in this area, the paper demonstrates how discourse analysis can uncover the influence of social, historical, institutional, and political contexts on older women’s recognition and understanding of domestic abuse, offering suggestions for improving recognition and support.