Published October 2007

One of the most hotly contested debates in the family violence research field today is the question: Is there gender
symmetry in domestic violence or not? Many studies have consistently found that men are the perpetrators of abuse in
the overwhelming majority of cases, and women and children are the victims.1 Some other studies in New Zealand and
internationally have shown that in the case of heterosexual couples, women are just as violent as men. 2 3 So what explains these seemingly contradictory research findings? Are women equally as violent as men? (From the fact sheet).

A fact sheet prepared by the New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse when it was based at the University of Canterbury. Contact details have been updated. Contact us for current information on this topic. Record #9071