Lesbian Mothering in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2008

Journal / Book Title

Journal of Lesbian Studies

Abstract

Twenty-four lesbian mothers (12 African American, 9 White, and 3 Latina) who had experienced physical abuse by a same-sex partner were interviewed. Three types of IPV were found: intimate terrorism, situational violence, and mutual violent control. Further, relationships between mothers/abusers, mothers/children, and abusers/children were examined. Regarding relationships with abusers, 71% of mothers reported lengthy sagas, 17% had worked it out, and 13% made a clean break from the abuser. Regarding relationships with their children, 48% of mothers hid the violence, 26% minimized it, and 26% openly communicated about the situation. Relationships between abusers and the mothers' children were found to be either co-parental (29%), playmate (21%), abusive (21%), or non-parental (21%). Correlations among relational and demographic variables were also examined.

DOI

10.1080/10894160802161364

Published Citation

Hardesty, J. L., Oswald, R. F., Khaw, L., Fonseca, C., & Chung, G. H. (2008). Lesbian Mothering in the Context of Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Lesbian Studies, 12(2–3), 191–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/10894160802161364

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