Victimology

Running head : VICTIMOLOGY

Victimology (name (school /university (Professor (subject /course (date

Abstract

It is important to remember that intimate partner violence transpires in all types of relationships . Victims of such violence have the right to assistance . However , gay and lesbian abused by their same-sex partner often face obstacles in seeking support , assistance and even legal aid How the partners ' seek aid in these times and how do they go about the process can be gleaned from this

Victimology

The term "intimate partner violence " describes the actual or threatened abuse

perpetrated by one person to gain control over another with whom they have , or have had , an intimate relationship (BNET , 2006 n .p . The components of this domestic violence include sexual and physical assaults , power , coercion , psychological abuse , economic control , threats and emotional abuse . The definition applies to same-sex domestic violence such as gay and lesbian couples since the effects of violence , such as guilt , fear , feelings of shame or responsibility anger , as well as physical injury , are similar in same-sex battering (Council , n .d , n .p

By believing that they are the only person who have experienced such abuse , this common practice can cause gay and lesbian victims to feel even more isolated , and could result in difficulty for them to recognize the aggressive behavior as abuse (UCLA , n .d , n .p . The statistics revealed that heterosexual intimate partner violence occurs at the same frequency among same-sex partner violence

A review of studies found that 22 to 46 percent of all lesbians have been in a physically violent same-sex relationship . The regularity of domestic violence among gay and lesbian couples is approximately 25-33 percent . Every year , between 50 ,000 and 100 ,000 lesbian women and as many as 500 ,000 gay men are battered (Campus , n .d , n .p

Men living with male intimate partners experience more intimate partner violence than female intimate partners . Around 23 percent of the men who had lived with a man as a couple reported being abused . The numbers provide evidence that male intimate partner violence is more common and prevalent than other partners of intimate relationships

The level of actual or threatened abuse is just as harsh and injurious in the same-sex relationship as in heterosexual relationship , however same-sex victims receive fewer protections . Victims of this kind of violence especially gays and lesbians , often seek medical treatment sustained from the abuses of their partner (BNET , 2006 , n .p . However despite the violence inflicted , same-sex victims still elect to remain in the abusive relationships because of fear , isolation , coercion feeling of guilt , lack of resources , and promises of reform (Council n .d , n .p . They are also unwilling to reveal the cause and reason for seeking help or medical treatment because of fear of humiliation or retaliation by their intimate partner , the law enforcement or the legal system . Due to the stigmatized or stereotyped community , victims fear of making the lesbian and gay community look bad , thus refuse to report incidents of abuses . They...