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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (91299)	12/18/2004 9:07:06 PM
From: average joe	Respond to of 793800

I guess unless we read that in the Washington Post it won't be to creditable. "Myths and Stereotypes As a heterosexual feminist with an interest in the operation and effects of patriarchy, violence against women by their male partners has been and remains a central concern to me. Lesbian and gay domestic violence has not been an issue which I have con sidered previously in any depth and it is generally the case that same sex domestic violence is not a subject often discussed in feminist domestic violence discourse. My initial response prior to researching the literature on same sex domestic violence demonstrates some of the preconceived myths which surround the issue. In relation to gay male domestic violence my view was that it would not be surprising to find a significant incidence of domestic violence - after all, men are encouraged to conform to the heterosexual, stereotypical definition of masculinity which venerates aggression and dominance as desirable 'male' characteristics. That men are violent and contr olling in relation to their male partners is understandable given internalised norms of 'appropriate' male behaviour. Internalised homophobia can also result in these norms being further amplified in gay male relationships in an attempt to be accepted as more 'male'. But what about violence in lesbian relationships? The incidence I thought would be substantially less, absent the patriarchal male-female gender dynamic and its accompanying power differential. Furthermore, 'female' as socially constructed emphasis es caring, mutuality, passivity and non aggression, and thus intimate relationships between women are more likely to be 'equal' and 'non violent'. The above view, which I think is certainly not atypical, is clearly refuted by the literature. There are indeed many widely held myths which serve to keep the problem of same sex domestic violence closeted. In summary, the more enduring myths which need to be dispelled are as follows: Domestic violence primarily occurs among gay men and lesbians who hang out at bars, are poor or are people of colour. Lesbians do not engage in violent abuse against their partners because women are not violent. A batterer must be physically bigger than the party abused. Women in relationships together have equal power. Lesbian battering only occurs in S/M or butch/femme relationships. Lesbian and gay domestic violence is about 'mutual combat', not power and control by one partner over the other. The violence is an 'equal fight'. Violence is a normal part of how some same sex relationships work. Men are never victims of domestic violence. It isn't violence when gay men fight, rather a case of 'boys being boys'. Lesbian and gay domestic violence is 'sexual behaviour', a form of S/M which both parties enjoy. Domestic violence victims deserve what they get because they provoke the violence. These myths must be exposed and challenged in order to acknowledge and begin to address the problem of same sex domestic violence." murdoch.edu.au