Abstract
Forty women who had been in abusive adult, intimate relationships with other women were interviewed. Their life experiences
leading up to these abusive relationships were qualitatively examined to determine how heterosexism created a social context
in which women were left vulnerable to abuse and dependent on their abusers. Childhood abuse, negative coming out experiences,
lack of a queer community, and substance/alcohol abuse contributed to survivors’ vulnerability to abuse by making them socially
isolated from a support system and dependent on their partners to reconstruct a sense of family.
leading up to these abusive relationships were qualitatively examined to determine how heterosexism created a social context
in which women were left vulnerable to abuse and dependent on their abusers. Childhood abuse, negative coming out experiences,
lack of a queer community, and substance/alcohol abuse contributed to survivors’ vulnerability to abuse by making them socially
isolated from a support system and dependent on their partners to reconstruct a sense of family.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10896-012-9455-z
- Authors
- Courtney McDonald, Department of Psychology/Sociology, Georgia Southwestern State University, 800 GSW University Drive, Americus, GA 31709, USA
- Journal Journal of Family Violence
- Online ISSN 1573-2851
- Print ISSN 0885-7482