Abuse Towards Elderly Parents by Adult Children: A Sociological Reflections from Bangladesh Society
Abuse Towards Elderly Parents by Adult Children: A Sociological Reflections from Bangladesh Society

Summary/Abstract: With the advent of social transformation from traditional to modern to neoliberal, social norms, values, kinship ties, and family bonding are getting weaker. Increasing abuse and negligence towards parents bear testimony to a changing social milieu where elderly parents are often being victimized by their children. Although religion and cultural norms dominate Bangladeshi society to some extent, analogous patterns of abuse toward parents are also rampant and there is a dearth of empirical evidence on the problem in Bangladesh. As such, this research attempts to explore the trends, nature, causes, and aftermath of elderly parental abuse in Bangladesh. Using a content analysis strategy, it captures news of elderly parental abuse published in online newspaper portals in Bangladesh. Twenty cases were identified and analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Abuses are mostly concentrated in the Dhaka division, fathers are the most common victims, and sons are the common perpetrators. Physical harm, parricide, and delayed burial are the most grievous forms of abuse. Property and wealth issue are the most triggering factors of abuse towards parents. Considering the grievous nature of the abuse, formal agencies and local people intervened in the incidents. The results of the analysis may be used for future policy directions not only in Bangladesh but also in many South Asian societies.

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