Intimate partner violence (IPV) is not restricted to heterosexual relationships—it happens in homosexual relationships as well. Studies have suggested that lesbian relationships are as likely as heterosexual relationships to be violent.
IPV can take many forms—physical or sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, and economic abuse. Physical/sexual abuse includes: pushing/shoving, slapping, punching, biting, kicking, use of a weapon, or forced sex. Common forms of psychological/emotional abuse include name calling, destroying property, disclosing a partner's sexual orientation against her will, sulking/refusing to talk about a problem, limiting where a partner goes or who she sees, and threatening the use of physical force. Economic abuse often consists of controlling how financial resources in the relationship are used. In the general population, 15% to 25% of intimate relationships are physically violent; emotional abuse/violence is much more common. Similarly, in the Chicago Health and Life Experiences of Women (CHLEW) Study approximately 15% of lesbians reported experiencing some form of physical abuse in their most recent intimate relationship, while 60% reported being the recipient of at least one psychologically abusive act.
Common misconceptions or myths associated with lesbian intimate partner violence include: 1) lesbian relationships are mutually combative—i.e., both of the women in the relationship are equally violent; 2) role playing is a prominent factor in violent relationships—women who assume a 'butch' role are more likely to be the abuser in lesbian relationships; and, 3) the victim enjoys the abuse; or the victim could leave the violent relationship at any time. Research studies do not support these myths. Rather, it is the need or wish for power and control—the batterer's use of various violent tactics in order to gain/maintain power in the relationship and control the actions of the victim—that is the driving force in violent lesbian relationships.
So why do victims of IPV sometimes remain in violent relationships? While simply ending the relationship may appear, on the surface, to be a viable solution, the most dangerous time for a victim of intimate partner violence is immediately after attempts to terminate the relationship. In addition, victims of IPV are often isolated from friends, family, or others who might be able to help.
IPV that occurs in either heterosexual or same-gender intimate relationships is a crime and can be prosecuted under the law. In addition to pressing criminal charges, victims of intimate partner violence can also obtain orders of protection. However, victims may not wish to seek legal action for a variety of reasons including fear that the police/courts will not take her seriously; fear about disclosure of sexual orientation; fear that the violence may escalate. All of these are valid concerns; only the victim can decide how much risk is acceptable. In recent years, domestic violence shelters and programs and other social service agencies that serve LGBT clients have begun to incorporate services for both batterers and victims of same-gender intimate partner violence. Although help outside the criminal justice system is now more available, there remains a great need for lesbian-sensitive services.
We hope that studies of lesbian health such as the CHLEW will provide greater understanding of same-gender IPV and will stimulate development of policies and services that better serve lesbians and their partners.
We are now conducting the second phase of interviews with the 450 women who participated in the study in 2000-2001. The overall success of this project depends on finding and interviewing as many women from the first phase of the study as possible. We have lost contact with about 35 of the 450 women who were interviewed three years ago. If you or anyone you know participated in the first phase of the study, call our toll-free number 1-866-933-3459 (chlewstudy@yahoo.com). No one can replace the original participants, so it is important we locate each of the 35 missing participants.