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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Cassandra K. Blazer Blazer, School of Public Health, Boston University, 715 Albany St., T2C, Boston, MA 02118, 617-638-4684, ckblazer@bu.edu and Anita Raj, PhD, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., T2W, Boston, MA 02118.

Objectives: 1) To review the literature on battering in lesbian relationships. 2) To review a lesbian batterers' intervention program, comparing it to recommendations from the literature.

Methods: A review of the peer-reviewed published literature on lesbian battering was undertaken to identify the prevalence of and risk factors related to abuse in lesbian relationships. Programmatic recommendations from this literature were compared to those used in male batterers' intervention programs, as men's programs are often the basis for lesbian programs. An accredited and recognized lesbian batterers' intervention program in Cambridge, MA was reviewed to assess how it compared to recommendations from the empirical literature; this review included analysis of the program literature (e.g., curriculum, brochures) and interviews with program staff on group participation and characteristics.

Results: According to the literature, similar to heterosexuals, 20% of lesbians have been abused by a partner, and abusive partners are more likely to report a history of family violence and substance abuse. The model for male batterers' intervention appears to be appropriate for lesbians, as regardless of sex of partners, abuse is rooted in power/control; however, in lesbian relationships, “outing” is an additional form of abuse that must be addressed by interventions. Although the reviewed program is consistent with recommendations from the empirical literature, it has limited attendance due to its reliance on court referrals for attendees.

Conclusions: Battering is an important but inadequately addressed issue among lesbians. Programs are limited by lack of evaluation studies on their curricula and underutilization by the criminal justice system.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify pervasiveness of lesbian IPV and risk factors for IPV perpetration among lesbians.
• Review batterers’ intervention for men who abuse their female partners and analyze what components of these interventions are relevant for lesbian perpetrators and what components are missing for this population.
• Examine key components of a recognized and accredited lesbian batterers’ intervention program and compare these to what is recommended by the empirical literature.

Keywords: Lesbian, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered