There is a greater impact of the stereotypes that have to do with gender roles especially in a same-sex relationship
There is a greater impact of the stereotypes that have to do with gender roles especially in a same-sex relationship. When their relationships with their peers change it impacts the way they act around people around them and in turn could limit social interaction for fear of being open about their sexuality and getting the same treatment they did before. Drawn upon research done it shows that 25-33% of LGBT relationships are abusive, this is similar to that of heterosexual couples, they are undetected as well as unreported allowing for the abuse to continue and to escalate this further proves that there is not sufficient evidence to prove that heterosexual relationships that experience domestic violence and homosexual relationships that experience it differ in many ways, and that they are in fact very similar. There are stereotypical ideals that are hidden in regards to same-sex intimate partner violence such as the idea that “women don’t hurt each other”. This is something that is untrue. Women are just as capable or horrendous actions as that of men who are usually thought of committing these types of acts. This article talks about the different tactics used against these women to keep them submissive such as “outing” the victim to their friends and family. This is scary because it can impact the victim’s life by changing how their coworkers, friends, and family view them causing the victim to further isolate themselves putting them in more danger. Even if a victim finds the courage to stand up to their abuser police and counseling services do not always provide the proper support or concern in order to help the victim escape their abuser, creating limited resources for them to turn to. In the Article titled, “The Impact of Gender Stereotypes on Legal Perceptions of Lesbian Intimate Partner Violence” is dangerous and harms many women involved in same sex partnerships that are abusive. In this study that was examined they had undergraduate students read a trial summary where the defendant in the case was charged with having physically assaulted her partner. In the study that was done results varied due to how each woman involved in the trial was perceived, for example whether the woman was seen as “feminine” or “masculine”. The results showed that whether each student saw the defendant or the victim as feminine or masculine determined who was responsible for the assault. The participants who were female stated that a victim who was seen as more masculine was believable than a victim who was seen as feminine if the person accused of assaulting the victim was masculine. The women also stated that if the victim was masculine and the defendant was masculine they were more likely to put the blame on the masculine defendant but if the defendant was feminine they were less likely to put blame on her for the assault. If the undergraduate student was a male, they were able to sympathize with a masculine defendant than a feminine victim but ultimately they would feel more anger towards a masculine female defendant in comparison to a defendant who was seen as more feminine. This shows a portion of how there are stereotypes and gender roles placed on a same-sex partnership among lesbians. It is hard for these women to come out and be open about their abuse if they feel because of how they look they will not be deemed truthful and that is not justice. People make assumptions based on appearance to determine who is the abuser and who the victim is and this creates a prejudiced system to protect abusers or keep Lesbian Domestic violence in the dark. In an article titled,“Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Patients”, discusses the statistics behind Lesbian domestic violence. The National Violence Against Women survey found 35.4% of women in a same-sex partnership reported a history of experiencing physical abuse sometime in their lives. LGBT individuals that attempt to access services to help Intimate Partner Violence are limited and shelter services for them are rare. Gender roles play a part in how society will protect the rights of Lesbians, and whether or not justice will actually be served in domestic violence cases or if they will just continue to happen because of the predisposed ideas that society has against masculine and feminine looking women. (via intimatepartnerrelationships)














