Intro Stages of Healthy Gay Relationships Intro To Domestic Violence Introduction to Gay Male Domestic Violence Treatment Of Domestic Violence Treatment Of Domestic Violence DV Links References Intro to Gay Male Domestic Violence Mutual Combat Domestic Violence in Gay Couples | The questions most people ask with regard to mutual combat relate to who is considered "the batterer" and who is considered "the victim"? While this is a complex issue, it actually can be managed with some brief interviewing and basic observation. Marrujo and Kreger (1996) offer that interviewing should include:
This basic information can make clear the roles the partners in the relationship play. Marrujo and Kreger (1996) and Fox (1999) offer a number of points from their research of battering in gay and lesbian relationships:
Fox (1999) cautions that you should "tone down" the powerful language like "domestic violence" and "abusive relationships," and instead ask about experiences of being hit, kicked, punched.... feelings of fear and anxiety... and keep checking on these questions and their answers regularly. Assessing for violence and the roles each partner plays may also entail assessing any risk of harm to children in the home (which may entail a mandated report to authorities), the presence of a weapon in the home (Holtzworth-Munroe et al, 1995) and the presence of a substance abuse or impulse control disorder that requires individual treatment. |