Domestic Violence in Lesbian Relationships (Essay Sample)

Name:
Tutor:
Course:
Date:
Domestic Violence in Lesbian Relationships
Domestic abuse which is a prevalent problem in today’s society can be defined as "a pattern of abusive behavior by an individual involved in an intimate relationship against their partner" (Renzetti 17). This form of abuse is used to establish some sort of dominance or control over the perceived minor partner. Domestic violence can either be physical, emotional or even sexual abuse where it is not apparent to those outside the relationship. Domestic violence affects both heterosexual and homosexual partners alike with factors such as race, gender, religion and sexual preference held constant. Statistically, a number of factors have been identified as the key contributors of domestic violence top on the list being stress, alcohol abuse, financial problems and inability to meet the relationship’s expectation. While these factors may seem to play a great role in domestic violence cases, the main cause of domestic abuse comes from within the abuser.
The current statistics on domestic violence cases may not reflect the actual situation on the ground owing to the fact that many incidents of domestic violence go unreported. However, there is substantial evidence to suggest that there are an equal number of couples affected by domestic violence in same sex relationships as there is in opposite sex relationships. The number of unreported cases is perceived to be much higher in lesbian relationships. In most cases, the reason why most couples fail to report domestic violence cases is due to the stigma involved. The situation is much worse in lesbian relationships ...