TY  - SER
AU  - Irwin, Jude
TI  - Lesbians and domestic violence: stories of seeking support
SN  - 18344941
PY  - 2006///
CY  - Sydney
PB  - Australian Association for Social Work and Welfare Education
KW  - FVC
KW  - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
KW  - ABUSED WOMEN
KW  - INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE
KW  - LESBIAN
KW  - LGBTQIA+
KW  - SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS
KW  - SUPPORT SERVICES
KW  - VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
KW  - AUSTRALIA
N1  - Women in Welfare Education (8) November 2006 : 28-36; at
N2  - Over the past three decades domestic violence in heterosexual relationships has been at the forefront of feminist activism and scholarship in the western world but despite this it continues to be a major social issue. Extensive research generated by feminist scholars and researchers has focused on male violence in heterosexual relationships and until recently there has been a reticence to explore women's violence, including violence in lesbian relationships.  Although there has been some acknowledgement of violence in intimate lesbian relationships, there still remains an ambivalence to come to terms with the existence of this violence. This article draws on qualitative research exploring lesbians' experiences of violence in their intimate relationships. It focuses specifically on experiences of help seeking, arguing that while lesbians may encounter similar forms of abuse in their relationships to those encountered by heterosexual women, dominant heteronormative assumptions shape, produce and limit understandings of violence in lesbians' intimate relationships influencing both policy and practice responses. The heterogeneity of women's experiences poses further challenges to practitioners and policy makers to develop responses that take into account the different needs and interests of lesbians.
UR  - http://www.aaswwe.asn.au/download/WIWE08_Nov2006.pdf
ER  -