Violent Betrayal: Partner Abuse in Lesbian Relationships

• NCJ Number: 137185
• Author(s): C M Renzetti
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 203 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study reports on the nature, correlates, and treatment for abusive lesbian relationships.

Abstract

The study reviewed a broad range of relevant literature, but the core of the study involved structured interviews with 100 women who identified themselves as victims of lesbian battering. The questionnaire used with the sample focused on the personal attributes of the participants, the nature of the abuse, and demographic questions about the research participants and their intimate partners. Physical and psychological abuse were the most common forms of abuse reported. The most frequent forms of physical abuse were pushing and shoving; followed by hitting with fists or open hands; scratching or hitting the face, breasts, or genitals; and throwing things. Psychological abuse was generally more frequent than physical abuse. The most common form of psychological abuse consisted of verbal threats, followed by the verbal demeaning of respondents in front of friends and relatives as well as strangers. One chapter examines three of the major sources of strain and conflict in lesbian relationships: dependency versus autonomy, jealousy, and the balance of power between partners. The chapter considers how each of these factors might contribute to partner abuse among lesbian couples. Another chapter reviews research that examined the relationship between substance abuse and domestic violence and between personal histories of abuse and violence against one's intimate partner. The chapter explores how each of these factors may be related to lesbian partner abuse. A chapter focuses on abused lesbians' efforts to obtain help to deal with or to end the battering and on the typical responses of potential help providers to battered lesbians' needs and requests. The concluding chapter identifies issues and areas of concern that the study findings have indicated should be the focus of future research and community initiatives. 132 references, chapter notes, appended questionnaire, and a subject index