There is not much known about how women from earlier generations experienced gambling and intimate partner violence (IPV). The social historical period in which women from older generations grew up likely shaped their experiences. This study explored the past experiences of older women who experienced male partner violence linked to gambling. Phone interviews were conducted with 22 women who were at least 50 years old and who experienced IPV from a male partner in the context of gambling. The researchers identified both cohort effects (e.g., generational characteristics of a group born at a particular time) and period effects (e.g., history, events, and conditions at the time of the abuse). Cohort effects included gendered attitudes, traditional views of marriage, an expectation to keep quiet, and little understanding of problem gambling. Period effects included a lack of services to support women experiencing IPV and those with problem gambling. There was not much legislation around IPV at the time, police responses were limited, and violence against women was often not taken seriously.
