Is the Lack of Attention to Same-Sex IPV Justified?

The author points out that same-sex intimate partner violence is ignored by researchers as well as policy makers. To assess whether or not this omission is justified, the author analyzed the data from the National Violence Against Women Survey.

The piece examined four types of partner violence: verbal abuse, controlling behavior, physical abuse and sexual abuse. The author used sex and sexual orientation as independent variables to establish comparison rates.

This piece found that – independent of sex – individuals who had a history of same-sex relationships were more likely to experience verbal abuse, controlling behavior, and physical & sexual abuse. Specifically, same-sex individuals experienced all four types of abuse twice as much as opposite-sex couples. Being a member of the GLB population increases a person’s risk for intimate partner violence victimization.

What does this tell us? Based on these survey results, it would seem that individuals in same-sex intimate relationships are at even greater risk, need more resources to deal with same-sex violence, and should be the subjects of research and policy making. 

Citation: Messinger, Adam M. (2011). Invisible Victims: Same-Sex IPV in the National Violence Against Women Survey. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26, 2228-2243.