The paper explores the effects that gender role socialization and heterosexism have on same-sex abusive relationships and stigma and barriers to reporting abuse. It summarizes similarities and differences of heterosexual and same-sex couples. A framework for professionals and issues created by minority stress are also discussed.
These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on original papers published within the last 6 years. The information available on this web site is provided as a public service and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Department of Health Services, or the University of Arizona. To conduct an individual search or locate older articles use the Search Summary Database which includes over 600 articles related to sexual violence.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
Brown, C. (2008). Gender-role implications on same-sex intimate partner abuse. Journal of Family Violence, 23, 457-462.
Tue, 2008-07-01
Sociocultural factors influence how same-sex intimate partner abuse is viewed, studied, reported and treated.
Most of the literature reviewed focuses on lesbian couples due to the fact there is little literature regarding IPV among gay men.
Glass, N., Perrin, N., Hanson, G., Bloom, T., Gardner, E., & Campbell, J. C. (2008). Risk for reassault in abusive female same-sex relationships. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 1021-1027.
Sun, 2009-02-01
The revised Danger Assessment is a valid measure of risk of re-assault among abusive female relationships.
The purpose of this study was to validate the accuracy of a revised version of the Danger Assessment (DA) instrument in assessing risk for re-assault by an abusive female partner among LBT women. In Phase 1 risk factors from the original DA were reviewed and input was received from victims and perpetrators about factors that were relevant to abusive female same-sex relationships. In Phase 2 the original DA and new risk factor items were evaluated by interviewing a sample of women. The new assessment tool identified several predictors of re-assault: an increase in physical violence, constant jealousy or possessiveness, cohabitation, threats or use of gun by abuser, illegal drug use or abuse of prescription medication by abuser, stalking, failure of individuals to take victim seriously when seeking help, fear of reinforcing negative stereotypes, and secrecy of abuse.
Small sample size limits ability to generalize findings.
Hassouneh, D., & Glass, N. (2008). The influence of gender role stereotyping on women’s experiences of female same-sex intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women, 14, 310-325.
Mon, 2008-12-01
Gender role stereotyping affects the ability of women to identify intimate personal violence in their relationships and access the services needed.
This article reported the qualitative findings of a study that examined risk factors for female same-sex intimate partner violence (FSSIPV) within individual, familial, community, and societal contexts. Fifty-two women between the ages of 15 and 64 participated in individual or group interviews. Four themes emerged from the study. Three themes, girls don’t hit girls, myth of lesbian utopia, and the belief that two women cannot really hurt one another, indicated that there may be a lack of awareness of FSSIPV, denial, and minimization of women’s use of violence. The theme, playing the feminine victim, suggests that there needs to be specific education and training about FSSIPV for those who work in criminal justice system.
This is a qualitative study based on a small sample size.
Heintz, A. J., & Melendez, R. M. (2006). Intimate partner violence and HIV/STD risk among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 21, 193-208.
Sun, 2006-01-01
The goal of the study was to examine HIV and sexually transmitted disease risk (STD) among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals who were in abusive relationships.
Study participants were LGBT individuals who sought services for intimate partner violence. The survey data from 58 participants was analyzed. Almost half of the participants (41%) reported being forced to have sex with an intimate partner. A third of participants (31%) reported never engaging in safer sex practices with an abusive partner. Reasons for not engaging in safer sex protection included wanting to avoid problems with the partner and fearing partner's response. Several individuals reported experiencing verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse as a result of requesting safer sex. Implications for screening and safety planning are discussed.
Lankenau, S., Clatts, M., Welle, D., Goldsamt, L., & Gwadz, M. (2005). Street careers: Homelessness, drug use, and sex work among young men who have sex with men (YMSM). International Journal of Drug Policy, 16, 10-18.
Tue, 2006-08-01
Effective social policies and interventions will recognize that homelessness, drug involvement, and sex work are interrelated aspects of the street economy.
This article describes ethnographic interviews with ten young, homeless men who have sex with men in New York City. It describes the "street capital" these men have accumulated as they have participated in the street economy as sex workers, and the "street competencies" these men have learned while surviving on the street. The article argues that these men began to accumulate "street capital" at an early age through experiences in various institutions, including their family, foster care, schools, hospitals, and jails. Combined with homelessness, different types of street capital combined with street competencies to result in street careers as sex workers participating in the street economy.
Moracco, K. E., Runyan, C. W., Bowling, J. M., & Earp, J. A. (2007). Women's experiences with violence: A national study. Women's Health Issues, 17, 3-12.
Thu, 2007-02-01
In a nationally representative sample of women, 60% reported experiencing some form of violence as adults; 10% had experienced violence in the previous year.
During 1997, telephone interviews were conducted with 1800 US women aged 18 years and over. Women were asked about stalking behaviors, physical assault, and sexual assault that they had experienced both during their adult lives and during the previous year. Data were weighted to account for demographic variations. Consistent with other national surveys such as the National Violence Against Women Survey, about one in six women reported having been sexually assaulted, and the perpetrator was three times more likely to be someone known to them than a stranger. Racial/ethnic differences were also similar to other national findings, with Asian American and white women being less likely to experience violence than all other groups. Other risk factors for having experienced sexual violence included being less than 55 years old (young women aged 18-24 reported the most violence), living in a household that received public assistance, and being lesbian/bisexual.
The sample was restricted to women living in households with telephones. Because the study was cross-sectional, the causal relationship of risk factors to types of violence experienced cannot be explored.
Murray, C. E., & Mobley, K. A. (2009). Empirical research about same-sex intimate partner violence: A methodological review. Journal of Homosexuality, 56, 361-386.
Sat, 2009-08-01
Common methodological strengths and limitations have been identified in the current body of research examining same-sex intimate partner violence.
This article is a review of empirical research on same-sex intimate partner violence. Selection criteria were established for published articles in 8 scholarly databases. The studies reviewed and descriptions of how each met or failed to meet selection criteria are included within the article. Some methodological strengths included: appropriate statistical analyses, clarity in the type of abuse measured, appropriate conclusions, and good detail about methodologies to facilitate replication. Weaknesses of methodologies included: failure to use representative sampling procedures, omission of strategies to control for social desirability, and lack of exclusion criteria. The authors make several recommendations for future research.
Studies in this review included those published between 1995 and 2006 and focused on adult (18 and over) populations.
Rew, L., Whittaker, T., Taylor-Seehafer, M., & Smith, L. (2005). Sexual health risks and protective resources in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual homeless youth. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 10, 11-19.
Tue, 2006-08-01
Services for homeless youth should be specific for both gender and sexual orientation.
This article compares the sexual health risks taken by homeless youth who identify as gay, lesbian, or bi-sexual to those taken by homeless youth who identify as heterosexual. Survey data collected from 425 homeless adolescents between 16 and 20 years of age were analyzed. More gay and lesbian youth reported sexual abuse, and being tested and treated for HIV than heterosexual youth. Gay and lesbian youth also scored lower on measures of assertive communication. Among gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual respondents, more males than females identified as homosexual and more females than males identified as bi-sexual.
Stotzer, R. L. (2009). Violence against transgender people: A review of United States data. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 14, 170-179.
Thu, 2010-01-07
Violence against transgender individuals begins early in life. They are at risk for multiple types and incidences of violence, and the threat of violence lasts throughout a lifetime.
This paper examined research on violence against transgender persons living in the United States. Three primary sources were used to examine rates and types of violence experienced by transgender persons: self-report surveys and needs assessments, hot-line calls and social service records, and police reports. Findings indicated: high rates of physical and sexual assault, harassment, multiple acts of violence experienced on a daily basis, and violence occurred in their homes by people they know. Authors suggested that the 3 primary sources of data are inadequate to understand the nature, severity, consequences, and antecedents of violence. Legislation should include gender into federal hate crime tracking mandates to help solve reporting problems and improve data collection.
Sampling bias may be present in data sources used.
Todahl, J. L., Linville, D., Bustin, A., Wheeler, J., & Gau, J. (2009). Sexual assault support services and community systems. Understanding critical issues and needs in the LGBTQ community. Violence Against Women, 15, 952-976.
Wed, 2010-01-13
Discrimination and misunderstandings toward and about the LGBTQ community impact sexual violence response, intervention and prevention efforts. Efforts should be improved with input from community members.
This study examined the relationship between community attitudes towards LGBTQ persons and responses toward sexual assault survivors using an on-line survey and 4 focus groups in the Pacific Northwest. Participants (130) were recruited using a listserv of sexual and domestic violence social service activists and providers, sexual violence agency bulletin boards, and 2 organizations that provided services to the LGBTQ community. Findings suggested that sexual violence is not generally discussed in the LGBTQ community in order to protect community from additional discrimination and because of gaps and barriers to services. The authors suggested that LGBTQ friendly practices should be incorporated into mainstream systems and cultural competency training should include same-sex issues.
Findings only reflect opinions of participants, not all issues and needs of community were likely captured in data collection.