The scope of domestic violence among lesbian relationships displays the pattern of intimidation, coercion, terrorism, or violence that achieves enhanced power and control for the perpetrator over her partner. [5] The forms of domestic violence in lesbian relationships include physical abuse, such as hitting, choking, using weapons, or restraining, often referred to as "battering"; emotional abuse, such as lying, neglecting, and degrading; intimidation threats, such as threats to harm the victim, their family, or their pets; sexual abuse, such as forcing sex or refusing safe sex; destruction of property, such as vandalizing the home and damaging furniture, clothing, or personal objects; economic, such as controlling the victim's money and forcing financial dependence. [13] In addition, psychological abuse was found to be common among lesbian victims. Outing is a specific and unique form of psychological abuse found in the LGBTQ community. This includes threatening to disclose someone's sexuality or relationship status to family, friends, and workplace as a form of control. [14] Findings from studies have shown that slapping was the most commonly reported form of abuse, while beatings and assaults with weapons were less frequent. [4] Sexual violence within lesbian relationships was found to be as high as 55%. The most frequent type included forced kissing, breast, and genital fondling, and oral, anal, or vaginal penetration. Eighty percent of victims reported psychological abuse and verbal abuse. Lesbians are also less likely to use physical force or threats than gay men. [15] Contributing factors [ edit ] General [ edit ] Reczek C, & Umberson D (2012). Gender, health behavior, and intimate relationships: Lesbian, gay, and straight contexts. Social Science & Medicine, 74( 11), 1783–1790. 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.011 [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ CrossRef] [ Google Scholar] Governments around the world should abolish sexist laws and create protocols that explicitly protect the rights of LBQ+ people.

I don’t think it’s a problem… we still sleep together, we’re still in the same bed, we still snuggle, and we’re still, you know, intimate, it’s just not necessarily as active as it was when we were in our twenties…it was constant. percent of bisexual women have been raped, compared to 17 percent of straight women and 13 percent of lesbians Lodge AC, & Umberson D (2013). Age and embodied masculinities: Midlife gay and heterosexual men talk about their bodies. Journal of Aging Studies, 27( 3), 225–232. 10.1016/j.jaging.2013.03.004 [ PMC free article] [ PubMed] [ CrossRef] [ Google Scholar]

Brezsnyak M, & Whisman MA (2004). Sexual desire and relationship functioning: The effects of marital satisfaction and power. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 30( 3), 199–217. 10.1080/00926230490262393 [ PubMed] [ CrossRef] [ Google Scholar] Weiss RS (1994). Learning from strangers: The art and method of qualitative interview studies. New York: Free Press. [ Google Scholar] When I started to lose my sex drive, [the doctor I told] never really asked any questions like, “Are you actively having relations?” or, you know, they never did that. So that would be something that would be nice for them to ask and see what’s going on. When straight couples discussed communication work related to sex, they did not emphasize duty and sometimes conveyed discordant feelings about sex and undertaking work to change their sex lives. Diane (straight) found herself “way more interested” in sex in midlife, but her husband Gary felt less interested in sex and related communication. Gary said: JSTOR is part of ITHAKA, a not-for-profit organization helping the academic community use digital technologies to preserve the scholarly record and to advance research and teaching in sustainable ways.

JSTOR Daily provides context for current events using scholarship found in JSTOR, a digital library of academic journals, books, and other material. We publish articles grounded in peer-reviewed research and provide free access to that research for all of our readers.In addition, lesbians uniquely reported “penciling in” time for sex—a form of work that reflects their sense of duty to keep sex in their marriages. When asked, “How has [sex] changed over the course of your relationship?” Patricia (lesbian) said: In the last couple of years I’ve been way more interested. A lot more interested. And I think we have this sort of disconnect, because my mind-set is that he’s a man and so of course if he’s a man he wants [sex], it’s going to be all the time. And he’s, you know, constantly explaining, ‘Look, it’s not really like that anymore. I’m a 43-year-old, 42-year-old man. It’s not like, you know, I’m not 20 anymore. … For me I take it a little personally. I’m like, oh, does that mean that, you know, you don’t love me?