Domestic violence is widespread in America, and is usually thought of in terms of violence by men against women, though some women do batter men. Child abuse is also very common, and can involve violence against children of either sex by adults of either sex, even to the degree that it is not uncommon for children to be murdered by relatives. A hidden side of domestic violence is that between partners in same sex-relationships. It occurs between gay men and between lesbians.
It has been estimated that more than six million women are victims of domestic violence every year in the United States, and this violence ranges from simple hassling in the street to rape and incest, to physical and psychological abuse, all of which are very destructive on the physical and mental health of a woman (Bernhard, 2000). While some woman-to-woman abuse takes place within families and between female gang members, the majority of woman-to-woman domestic violence takes place between lesbians. They represent the hidden minority of abused women in that their problems are rarely talked about, and the resources available to them are extremely limited.
Shelters are fairly widespread now for female victims of domestic violence by their spouse or intimate partner, but most of these do not cater to lesbians, yet it has been estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 lesbians are believed to be battered by their partners each year (Nealon, 1992). Because so many people still do not recognize same-sex relationships as legitimate, they do not view domestic violence in lesbian couples in the same way as they do in heterosexual couples, though many of the features are the same. They both represent an expression of power, and the abused partner is often intimidated by threats into not reporting it to the authorities. There is also the fear among lesbian couples that their complaints will not be taken seriously by the authorities.
This problem of the hi...