Carolyn McDowell, an LLB and LLM law graduate from Queen’s University Belfast, has been awarded a prestigious doctoral scholarship from the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy.

This groundbreaking socio-legal research critically examines ways to improve the experience of older female victims (60+) of domestic abuse within the NI criminal justice system. The research seeks to foreground this vitally important yet under-researched topic by using a robust, complimentary theoretical framework of feminist gerontology, life course theory and therapeutic jurisprudence. Qualitative interviews will be conducted with a range of charities and legal professionals working with older female victims of domestic abuse to gain a holistic understanding of the issues they face.

Carolyn’s primary supervisor is Professor Kevin J Brown and Dr Alice Diver acting as secondary supervisor.

Carolyn said “I am excited to continue my PhD journey on a full-time basis within the dynamic School of Law community. I have always had a passionate interest in tackling violence against women and girls, which has reached endemic levels in Northern Ireland. We live in a rapidly ageing society and older female victims of domestic abuse encounter unique, complex barriers when accessing justice on account of deeply entrenched ageism and sexism. There is an assumption that domestic abuse dissipates with age, but it happens across the lifespan and women are disproportionately impacted. I look forward to raising awareness of this important, timely subject and ultimately, producing practical guidance for professionals working with this victim cohort.” 

Professor Kevin Brown said “As the supervisor, I am delighted to support Carolyn as she embarks on her full-time PhD journey within the School of Law. Carolyn has shown a deep commitment to addressing the pressing issue of violence against women and girls, which has reached critical levels in Northern Ireland. Her research sheds an important light on the unique and complex challenges that older female victims of domestic abuse encounter when seeking justice, often due to entrenched ageism and sexism. Contrary to the common belief that domestic abuse diminishes with age, Carolyn's work highlights that this violence persists throughout the lifespan. I am confident that her research will bring much-needed academic attention to this important topic and will ultimately offer valuable guidance for professionals working with this vulnerable group.”

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We welcome PhD applications from prospective students. Further details on how to apply can be found at https://www.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofLaw/study/postgraduate-research/