Title
Victimization and Perpetration in Gay/Lesbian Relationships: Gender Differences Explored
Department/School
Justice and Society Studies
Date
1-1-1997
Document Type
Article
Keywords
attitude to health, behavioral sciences, crime victims, homosexuality, psychology, policy, social justice, human rights, spouse abuse
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.12.2.173
Abstract
This study explores gender differences in victimization and perpetration experiences of gays and lesbians in intimate relationships. A sample of 283 gays and lesbians reported on their experiences both as victims and perpetrators of gay/lesbian relationship violence by completing a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale (Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz, 1980). General results indicate that 47.5% of lesbians and 29.7% of gays have been victimized by a same-sex partner. Further, lesbians reported an overall perpetration rate of 38% compared to 21.8% for gay men. Other findings were as follows: (1) lesbians were more likely to be classified as victims and perpetrators of violence than gay men; (2) lesbians were more likely to report pushing or being pushed than gay men; (3) lesbians reported experiencing a greater number of different victimization and perpetration tactics than gay men; and finally, (4) when items were weighted to create an indicator of severity, no significant differences between lesbians and gay men were found.
Published in
Violence and Victims
Citation/Other Information
Waldner-Haugrud, Lisa K., Linda Vaden Gratch and Brian Magruder. 1997. “Victimization and Perpetration in Gay/Lesbian Relationships: Gender Differences Explored.” Violence and Victims 12(2): 173-84.