Domestic Violence Against Older Women in Italy: Anti-Violence Policies Grappling with Sexism, Ageism, and Familism

Journal title WELFARE E ERGONOMIA
Author/s Barbara Da Roit, Elisa Matutini, Fabio Perocco, Stefania Spada
Publishing Year 2026 Issue 2025/2
Language Italian Pages 18 P. 151-168 File size 131 KB
DOI 10.3280/WE2025-002011
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In Italy, domestic violence against women is a widespread and multifaceted phenomenon that recent public debate has helped bring to light. However, this debate does not seem to fully account for the diverse sociodemographic profiles of victims and perpetrators, nor the social contexts in which they are embedded. In particular, domestic violence against older women remains a less visible and less “problematized” phenomenon. Following an extensive review of international literature, this article illustrates and discusses the results of policy-oriented exploratory research conducted in the Veneto region. Specifically, through semi-structured interviews with a non-representative but diverse sample of key informants – including anti-violence center staff, general practitioners, social workers, home care and emergency social service providers, and “Punti Rosa” (Pink Points) personnel – the forms, dynamics, and consequences of domestic violence against older women are reconstructed and analyzed, alongside the intervention methods of the dedicated institutional service network. By discussing the strengths and weaknesses of prevention and protection strategies that consider the specificities of the victims and their contexts, the analysis helps identify tools for understanding and intervention. These insights are intended to assist in implementing policies and protection measures that are more responsive to the needs of older women who are victims of domestic violence.

Keywords: Domestic violence; older women; institutional response; intersectionality; social work.

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Barbara Da Roit, Elisa Matutini, Fabio Perocco, Stefania Spada, La violenza domestica nei confronti delle donne anziane in Italia: le politiche di contrasto alle prese con sessismo, ageismo e familismo in "WELFARE E ERGONOMIA" 2/2025, pp 151-168, DOI: 10.3280/WE2025-002011