Examining the Victimization of Older Lesbians

• In Event: LGBTQ Victimization

Abstract

Victimization studies often focus on minority group status; however, these studies provide a narrow understanding of minority by defining it almost exclusively as race, ethnicity, or sex. Likewise, studies examining the victimization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender persons often fail to include older adults or simply control for the victim’s age while lumping older individuals in with younger adults. This may be especially problematic when testing theories such as Cohen and Felson’s routine activities approach, due to that theory’s emphasis on the lifestyle of the victim. Indeed, extant research which utilizes routine activities to explain the victimization of the gay and lesbian population has found that older gay men and lesbians have a greater risk for certain forms of victimization as compared to younger individuals. It is thus the purpose of this study to examine the victimization of a sample of older lesbians, through the use of a self-administered survey, paying particular attention to routine activities.

Authors

• Michele Stacey, East Carolina University

• Paige Averett, East Carolina University

• Brittany Bullock, East Carolina University