Sociocultural perceptions of older women on gender-based violence in rural areas of Eastern Andalusia, Spain

Gender-based violence against older women in rural areas often remains hidden, sustained by cultural norms, intergenerational silence, and limited recognition of harmful behaviors in later life. This study draws on interviews with 14 women aged 60 and over in rural municipalities of the Sierra de Segura (Jaén, Andalusia, Spain), using an ethnographic method and an emic approach through a phenomenological design. Findings reveal the normalization and invisibilisation of violence through traditional gender roles, social stigma, and limited resources, which hinder recognition and reporting. Many participants did not identify certain behaviors as violence. Three main themes emerged: (1) gendered perceptions and relationship dynamics in rural life; (2) cultural norms and gender hierarchies: religion, tradition and gender differences; and (3) normalization and invisibility of gender-based violence in rural spaces. The study calls for discreet, context-sensitive interventions grounded in participants' perspectives.