Financial Exploitation of Older Women: A Case Analysis Using the Struggle for Recognition Theory

Abstract

This article aims to make a theoretical contribution to the field of mistreatment of older adults by introducing Honneth’s Struggle for Recognition theory in order to document financial mistreatment of older women. Through a case analysis of an older woman financially exploited by her son, considering self-agency and structure, it shows how financial mistreatment disrespects the three components of Honneth’s theory, primary relationships, legal relations, and community of value. Personal integrity, social integrity, and honor and dignity are threatened by mistreatment. This case analysis opens for further theoretical exploration of the Struggle for Recognition theory in the understanding of mistreatment of older adults.

KEYWORDS:

• financial exploitation
• older women
• struggle for recognition

Notes

1. In Québec, the concept “mistreatment of older adults” is being used because it better reflects the meaning of the French term maltraitance which means to treat badly or in a wrong way. Because mistreatment behaviors (violence and neglect) are not always included in the Criminal Code of Canada, it is also a choice to avoid using the terms victim and abuser.

2. Also called financial exploitation or material mistreatment.

3. All terms written in italics are the ones used by Honneth.

4. Honneth refers to physical integrity but we can argue that it is also emotional and material integrity that are threatened; therefore we replace the word physical by personal.

5. This project has been accepted by the Ethics Committee of University of Sherbrooke as a part of a doctoral thesis. This case was selected among five because of its richness regarding financial exploitation of an older woman.

6. The concept of restorying makes reference to the reorganization of the stories into a framework that makes sense (Cresswell, 2012).

7. Canada has 13 jurisdictions: 10 provinces and 3 territories. Only the Criminal Code is applied throughout all these jurisdictions; all other laws and regulations are specific to each jurisdiction.

8. Mary never wanted to share the nature of her mental health issues to Jack. She told him she had been dependent on medication for many years.