Gender and Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

The infl uence of gender on intimate partner violence (IPV) has been predominantly studied in opposite sex relationships. This article presents the results of a systematic literature review in which the aim was to understand how gender may aff ect not only the violence in same-sex IPV but also, and mostly, each element of the couple and third-party responses. The search was conducted in four electronic databases: B-on , PubMed , Sage and PsycINFO . From the analysis of seven articles selected, four major domains were identifi ed in which gender aff ects these relationships: normalizing violence; diffi culty in recognizing violence; diffi culty in seeking help; and social isolation. It was concluded that gender, or gender role expectations, cannot be ignored while studying this phenomenon. More than infl uencing violence per se , gender shapes the way each element of the couple perceives their experiences and third-party perceptions (e.g., family, friends, justice system, and victims support services professionals), preventing an adequate social response to this form of violence.