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Some lesbian victims of domestic violence don’t seek help because they’re afraid of homophobic reactions from friends, family and the police, according to new research to be presented to the British Sociological Association’s annual conference in Cardiff today (17 April 2009).

Dr Rebecca Barnes, Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Derby, interviewed 40 women who had suffered some form of domestic abuse from a female partner.

One in four women in same-sex relationships experience domestic violence – the same rate as for women in heterosexual relationships.

Dr Barnes’ study found that while women in both lesbian and heterosexual relationships report similar forms of emotional, physical, financial and sexual abuse, some women in same-sex relationships are also at risk of homophobic abuse.

Homophobic abuse involves the abuser threatening to ‘out’ the victim against her wishes, or reinforces the victim’s fears of homophobic responses in order to deter her from seeking help.

Of the 40 women interviewed who had received verbal and physical abuse from their same-sex partners, five had either been threatened with having their sexuality revealed to their family and colleagues by the abusive partner, or had this threat had been carried out.

Seven of the women had felt so trapped that they had felt suicidal during the abusive relationship. Three had actually attempted suicide.

“One of the key differences with same-sex abuse is the secrecy which surrounds many same-sex relationships,” said Dr Barnes.

“A few of my participants had had relationships lasting years which their family or colleagues knew nothing about or which only a few close friends were aware of. This particularly applied to women who were in their first same-sex relationship.

“The fear of losing key relationships with family or friends, or of encountering homophobia at work should one’s sexuality be revealed, can deter some victims from speaking out about the abuse.

“An abusive partner’s awareness of these fears can lead them to exploit the victim’s vulnerabilities in order to keep them in the relationship and under their control.”

“Even where these threats were not made, fear of having their sexuality revealed or of receiving homophobic responses deterred some of the abused women from seeking support from agencies such as the police.

Sadly, some of these fears of homophobia appear to be well-grounded – of the three women interviewed by Dr Barnes who had gone to a women’s refuge, one had been ostracised by fellow residents when her sexuality was discovered.

“These findings show that more support for those in same-sex relationships is needed and that this needs to be there not just in the immediate aftermath of an abusive relationship, but also in the long-term,” added Dr Barnes.

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