Citation

Giorgio G. Violence Against Women 2002; 8(10): 1233-1259.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Long-term, in-depth interviews with 11 abused lesbians and 10 domestic violence advocatesreveal how lesbian victims struggle to define the relationship's abuse, their lesbianidentity, and their own understanding of gendered violence in the context of cultural andinstitutional stigmatization of lesbians. By understanding abused lesbians' silence asconstitutive of their definitional dialogues about their relationships and the abuse,researchers and advocates can begin to determine who asserts definitional hegemony inthe relationship. The author concludes by suggesting practical strategies that researchersand advocates can deploy to include abused lesbians in domestic violence theory, praxis,and services.