Constructions of intimate partner violence in gay male relationships.
Date
2014-06-12
Authors
Moodley, Yolandran
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Although
prevalence
rates
of
gay
intimate
partner
violence
(IPV)
appear
to
equal
heterosexual
IPV
rates,
gay
male
IPV
does
not
feature
strongly
in
public
anti-‐violence
messaging.
This
relative
silence
appears
to
hold
even
within
the
LGBTI
(lesbian,
gay,
bisexual,
transgender
and
intersex)
community.
This
study
addresses
this
silence.
In-‐depth
qualitative
interviews
were
conducted
and
a
critical
discourse
analysis
informed
by
Ian
Parker’s
(1992)
perspectives,
was
used
to
analyse
the
results.
A
review
of
mainstream
and
critical
discourses
of
violence
show
that
IPV
is
usually
constructed
as
an
exclusively
heterosexual
phenomenon
and
these
influenced
participants’
constructions.
Findings
indicated
that
a
range
of
discourses
intersect
to
produce
constructions
of
gay
IPV
as
‘not
violence’,
normative,
un-‐
harmful,
unintimidating,
‘anti-‐gay’,
erotic,
cathartic
and
intimate.
All
of
these
formations
can
result
in
gay
IPV
being
silenced
and
it
was
shown
that
gay
mens’
constructions
of
IPV
were
inextricably
bound
in
gendered,
power
asymmetry.
The
study
demonstrates
how
particular
configurations
of
discourse
are
necessary
for
violence
to
become
intelligible
at
all.
The
implications
of
these
findings
are
discussed
and
possibilities
for
important
community
intervention
suggested.
Description
Keywords
Intimate partner violence, Gay men, Critical discourse analysis, Hegemonic masculinity, Violence, Partner abuse