“More Closeted Than Gayness Itself”: The Depiction of Same-Sex Couple Violence in Newspaper Media

Lloyd M., Ramon S.

News media are in a position to project certain perspectives on domestic violence while marginalizing others, which has implications for public understanding and policy development. This study applies discourse analysis to articles on domestic violence in two U.K. national daily newspapers published in 2001-2002 and 2011-2012 to evaluate evidence of change over a 10-year time span. The research examines how discourses of domestic violence are constructed through newspaper representations of victims, predominantly women, and perpetrators, predominantly men. Although one of the newspapers adopts a respectful position toward women, the textual and visual techniques adopted by the other reveal a tendency for blaming the victim and sexualizing violence related to perceptions of “deserving” or “undeserving” women victims.

Guadalupe-Diaz X.

Among the many crimes that go unreported to the police, intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the least reported by victims. While some research has addressed various factors that influence police reporting for crimes in general, less is known about what shapes comfort with disclosing same-sex IPV within the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community. The present study utilized secondary data gathered by a local nonprofit in the southeastern United States ( N = 277) to explore the influences of race, gender, previous IPV victimization, and previous police intervention on the comfort participants reported in disclosing same-sex IPV to the police. The findings illustrate that those LGB who are nonwhite, male, and had experienced a previous police intervention in their own case of same-sex IPV reported significantly less comfort in disclosing same-sex IPV to the police. These results have implications for police training, LGB outreach, and future research.

Bernstein M.

In this article, I respond to queer critiques of the pursuit of same-sex marriage. I first examine the issue of (homo)normalization through a consideration of the everyday lives of same-sex couples with children, a subject about which queer critics are strangely silent. Children force same-sex couples to be out in multiple areas of their lives and recent court cases explicitly challenge the idea that same-sex couples do not make fit parents. Second, I examine whether same-sex marriage will address structural inequalities or will mainly benefit white, middle-class people. Access to marriage has disparate benefits depending on people’s structural locations, but is a movement goal supported by a broad array of LGBT people. Third, I examine the relationship between marriage, regulation, and the state. I argue for a broader understanding of the relationship between the state and different types of relationships, suggesting that it is impossible to escape regulation. If we consider marriage and family forms cross-nationally, we see a variety of possibilities for state recognition of various family forms. I conclude by assessing the impact of same-sex marriage on the future of LGBT politics, arguing that achieving marriage equality may allow the space for new political possibilities to emerge.

Rodriguez N.S., Blumell L.

The issue of same-sex marriage continues to be a focal point in U.S. media. The topic garnered a substantial amount of attention in 2013, with the repeal of Defense of Marriage Act, the legalization of same-sex marriage in eight U.S states and five foreign countries, and the passage of the Russian Anti-Gay Law. The question at hand is how U.S. newspapers framed these stories throughout the year. The authors utilized a qualitative content analysis of source quotes included in articles about same-sex marriage in The New York Times. The findings from this analysis reveal the use of not only the traditional equality master frame but also uncovered themes of children, inevitability, political evolution, and fear. The results also unearthed a lack of human interest perspective. This study adds insight into how citizens of the United States are exposed to (and may ultimately define) the issue of same-sex marriage.

Lindsay-Brisbin J., DePrince A.P., Welton-Mitchell C.

News coverage can influence public views of important health problems, including domestic violence (DV). To understand how newspaper reports frame DV, this study examined 187 articles published across a single state over a one-year period. Coded variables included characteristics of the newspapers and articles; incident details; common DV themes (e.g., victim blame; DV as isolated or rare); and education, resources, and community context. Approximately one-third of articles framed DV using themes that might misinform the public about DV (e.g., victim blame). The majority of articles missed opportunities to provide educational information or resources about DV and failed to situate DV in a community context. These findings point to missed opportunities for newspapers to provide comprehensive information and resources to the public.

Carlyle K.E., Scarduzio J.A., Slater M.D.

Preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health priority. An important component of designing prevention programs is developing an understanding of how media portrayals of health issues influence public opinion and policy. To better understand the ways in which media images may be informing our understanding of IPV, this study content analyzed portrayals of IPV in news media articles. Stratified media outlets were used to obtain a representative sample of daily newspapers based on their designated market areas. Researchers created constructed months using weeks from each season across a 2-year period. The first part of the study investigated quantitative differences in the coverage of female and male perpetrators ( n = 395) and identified several areas where coverage differed. The second part of the study qualitatively examined coverage of female perpetrators ( n = 61) to provide a richer description of such coverage. This study contributes to our understanding of female perpetrators and how these portrayals may contribute to the larger gender symmetry debate surrounding female aggressors. Implications for public health policy and research are discussed.

Frankland A., Brown J.

Contemporary approaches to intimate partner violence (IPV) have been heavily shaped by the primacy given to coercive control over physical violence and the use of typologies. Few studies have attempted to apply these approaches to same-sex relationships. This study aimed to explore patterns of violence and control and examine the utility of typologies within same-sex domestic violence (SSDV). Data from 184 gay men and lesbians on their experiences with aggressive and controlling behaviors within same-sex relationships was used to identify categories consistent with Johnson's typology. Over half of the sample were non-violent and noncontrolling, while 13.0 % of respondents and 14.7 % of their partners had engaging in situational couple violence (SCV). Smaller proportions (4.4 % of respondents and 6.5 % of partners) engaged in coercive controlling violence (CCV). Rates of mutually violent control (MVC) were high (12.5 %). This typology was expanded to identify cases of non-violent control (NVC), which included 7.1 % of respondents and 5.4 % of partners. To date, no other studies have reported on the use of controlling behaviors within same-sex relationships. These data demonstrated the presence of patterns of control and violence consistent with categories originally identified in heterosexual couples. Data also supported the growing acceptance of the central role of coercive control in IPV.

Hinote B.P., Webber G.R.

Existing research extensively documents the health crisis in Russia and the former Soviet Union. In this article, the authors examine what historical factors set the stage for these trends and, perhaps more importantly, their origins. Specifically, the authors analyze Russian history, culture, and state ideology to explore the connections between masculinities and alcohol and to apply existing sociological theories of gender to this unique social context. The authors employ the concept of hegemonic masculinity to examine the historical dimensions of working-class drinking and its impact on Russian men’s health. The authors also identify one of the important origins of men’s harmful drinking practices by focusing on the historical construction and enactment of masculinities in two prominent social fields—the tavern and the workplace. The authors’ focus upon Russian history and culture emphasizes the sociohistorical factors associated with negative drinking patterns, and consequent health problems, among men in this part of the world.

Messinger A.M.

With intimate partner violence (IPV) among same-sex couples largely ignored by policy makers and researchers alike, accurately estimating the size of the problem is important in determining whether this minimal response is justified. As such, the present study is a secondary data analysis of the National Violence Against Women Survey and represents the first multiple variable regression analysis of U.S. adult same-sex IPV prevalence using a nationally representative sample ( N = 14,182). Logistic regressions indicate that, independent of sex, respondents with a history of same-sex relationships are more likely to experience verbal, controlling, physical, and sexual IPV. Behaviorally “bisexual” respondents experience the highest IPV rates and are most likely to be victimized by an opposite-sex partner. Implications for future IPV research regarding sexual orientation and gender are discussed.

Li X., Liu X.

This study examined fairness and balance in the coverage of same-sex marriage by 5 U.S. newspapers, and how source use, newspaper working context, and media frames affect fairness and balance of the coverage. A content analysis of 209 stories found that overall coverage of same-sex marriage was fair and balanced and stories framed as thematic were more likely to be fair and balanced than stories framed as episodic. Source dominance of the stories was associated with balance of the coverage. Hypotheses about the effects of working context on fairness and balance of news coverage and on media frames were not supported.

Campbell H.

In this article I report the findings of an ethnographic study of men's pub drinking in rural New Zealand. By using the idea of hegemonic masculinity and incorporating theoretical ideas of gender performativity, the analysis focuses on aspects of drinking performance that are central to the establishment of hegemony by a particular version of masculinity in this community. Two important characteristics of pub drinking performance are conversational cockfighting and the disciplines of drinking. These combine to ensure that a particular version of masculinity, here called pub(lic) masculinity, is able to reproduce itself. A further finding is that masculinity in this kind of performative situation develops a degree of invisibility. Using the metaphor of the glass phallus, I engage with the difficulties of analyzing an invisible masculinity and argue that rendering masculinity visible is an important task for any sociological analysis of both public leisure sites in rural society and the embodied performance of alcohol consumption by men in public spaces. Language: en

Calzo J.P., Ward L.M.

This study explored connections between media use and college students' attitudes of acceptance towards homosexuality (AATH). Data were collected from 1,761 undergraduates (62.7% female, MAge = 19 years). Results varied by the gender, ethnicity, and religiosity of the participants. Overall, greater media consumption among men and those who are highly religious was associated with greater AATH, whereas the reverse was true among women and those who are less religious. Although the associations were modest, the results support evidence of a mainstreaming effect, whereby increased media exposure may draw groups with disparate attitudes towards a more similar viewpoint on homosexuality.

Taylor R.

The present study is a content analysis of crime news to determine how femicide victims are portrayed by a Florida metropolitan newspaper. The analysis consisted of 292 domestic homicide-related articles published by one newspaper from 1995 to 2000. The data were analyzed to determine effects on newsworthiness, context revealed, and patterns of victim blame. A dichotomy concerning victim blame emerged from the analysis, suggesting victims are blamed directly and indirectly for their own femicides. Direct tactics include using negative language to describe the victim, highlighting her choices not to report past incidences, and portraying her actions with other men as contributing to her murder. Indirect tactics include using sympathetic language to describe the perpetrator; emphasizing the perpetrator's mental, physical, emotional, and financial problems; highlighting the victim's mental or physical problems; and describing domestic violence in terms that assign equal blame to both partners.

Franklin B.

Carlyle K.E., Slater M.D., Chakroff J.L.

How media portray intimate partner violence (IPV) has implications for public perceptions and social policy. Therefore, to better understand these portrayals, this study content analyzes a nationally representative sample of newspaper coverage of IPV over a two-year-period and compares this coverage to epidemiological data in order to examine the implications of the discrepancies between coverage and social reality. Stratified media outlets across the country were used to obtain a representative sample of daily newspapers based on their designated market areas, resulting in 395 IPV-related articles. Results show that newspaper framing of IPV tends to be heavily skewed toward episodic framing. In addition, there are significant differences between our data and epidemiological estimates, particularly in the coverage of homicide and use of alcohol and illegal drugs, which may skew public perceptions of risk. Implications for public perceptions and social policy are discussed.

Wright E., Eriksson L., Bond C.E.

Public perceptions of intimate partner homicide victims are influenced by how the news media frames incidents, often perpetuating gendered stereotypes. In particular, research has found that victim blaming is common in the reporting of intimate partner homicide. However, the way the public engages with news media has changed, as social media platforms allow audiences to engage in news creation by posting comments. Despite this shift, limited research has examined the impact of gender and media frames on victim blaming comments. This study used an experimental vignette design to examine whether victim blaming comments made by Australian survey respondents ( n = 537) were influenced by the gender of the offender/victim pair and the framing of a media report, controlling for respondents’ media usage, attitudes, and demographics. Survey respondents were randomly assigned to one of four vignettes presenting a news report on an intimate partner homicide, which varied by the gender of the offender/victim and media frame (victim blaming/bad offender). Respondents were asked to leave a comment as if they were on a social media platform. Analyses revealed that respondents more commonly blamed the victim where there were female offender/male victim pairs compared to male offender/female victim pairs. Respondents also more commonly blamed the victim when there was a victim blaming frame compared to a bad offender frame. Finally, the analyses showed an interactive effect of the gender of the offender/victim pair and the media frame on respondents’ comments. Respondents were more likely to blame victims when the victim was male (female offender) and there was a victim blaming frame. The insights from this study have significant implications for policy and practice. Specifically, there is a need for enhanced training and resources for media professionals, as well as the creation of safer online communities through effective comment moderation.

Strysko A., Brown L.M.

Estes M.L., Straub A.M., León-Corwin M.

Storer H.L., Mitchell B., Willey-Sthapit C.

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated incidences of domestic violence (DV). The framing of DV within media sources contributes to the public's understanding of DV. Using critical discourse analysis (CDA), this paper explores representations of safety within newspapers’ reporting of DV during the pandemic. The sample included newspaper articles ( n = 31) from U.S. newspapers. The analysis involved multiple rounds of coding and employing “structured questions.” These articles depicted limited courses of action for DV survivors and represented safety as unattainable. Safety was constructed in four ways: homes are unsafe, social services are overburdened, government failures, and the elusiveness of safety. These discursive formations provide insight regarding “idealized” social responses to DV.

Trombetta T., Balocco V., Santoniccolo F., Paradiso M.N., Rollè L.

Same-sex intimate partner violence (SSIPV) is a serious health concern and may manifest in various forms. Nevertheless, controlling behaviors of isolation are still poorly investigated. Due to their marginalized status, sexual minorities can face SSIPV-specific risk factors, such as internalized homonegativity, as well as general psychological stress factors, such as emotion dysregulation. While the literature is growing, there is still a lack of understanding of the complex pathways linking sexual minorities and minority stress to IPV and isolating controlling behavior. To fill this gap, we explored the relation between internalized homonegativity and controlling behaviors of isolation, assessing the mediating role of emotion dysregulation. In total, 120 gay and lesbian people (mean age = 33.8, SD = 11.5) involved in a same-sex relationship participated in the study. Results showed a direct and positive association between internalized homonegativity and difficulties in emotion regulation and a direct and positive association between emotion dysregulation and controlling behaviors of isolation; the mediating role of emotion dysregulation in the relation between internalized homonegativity and isolating controlling behaviors was supported as well. Emerging results can provide valuable information at the clinical level, although further studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

Kar A., Das N., Broadway-Horner M., Kumar P.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been a significant public health problem in same-sex relationships. However, health policies across the globe do not address IPV causing a massive gap in health and economic burden. In the last decade, crucial missing links have been established, and researchers tried to connect the dots of this severe health disparity. This intersectionality has found the impact of race, gender, class, physical ability, and legal framework of IPV in lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) relationships. However, preventive strategies, training programs, and dialogues in the clinical field about IPV are from heteronormative lenses. This particular bias can perpetuate the issue and will remain one of the leading causes of health burden in the LGB population. This article reviews the lacunae in health policies regarding same-sex IPV, highlights its impact on minority mental health, and calls for attention to train health-care professionals regarding the same.

Tognasso G., Trombetta T., Gorla L., Ramon S., Santona A., Rollè L.

Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence (SSIPV) among lesbian women has been underestimated until few decades ago. While the association between romantic attachment and SSIPV has been widely demonstrated, mechanisms that mediate this association and the complex relationships between romantic attachment, SSIPV, and SSIPV-specific risk factors have not been adequately investigated to date. The current study assessed the influence of romantic attachment on SSIPV perpetration among lesbian women, exploring the mediating role of internalized homonegativity within this association. Three hundred and twenty-five Italian lesbian women with a mean age of 30 years were recruited and completed the following self-report measures: the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R), the Measure of Internalized Sexual Stigma, and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale Short Form. The results showed a positive association between attachment anxiety, and general and psychological SSIPV perpetration. Similarly, attachment avoidance was positively related with general, psychological, and physical SSIPV perpetration. The association between romantic attachment, and general and psychological SSIPV was partially mediated by internalized homonegativity. These findings have theoretical implications and provide valuable information to implement services and interventions tailored for SSIPV, to date scarce and not effective.

Santoniccolo F., Trombetta T., Rollè L.

Same-Sex Intimate Partner Violence (SSIPV) is a complex issue that can be severely damaging. When involved in SSIPV, victims and perpetrators sometimes choose to seek help. The help-seeking process, however, can be difficult. Experiences of help-seeking seem to vary and may be positive or negative depending on several factors, some of which appear to be specific to lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people involved in a same-sex relationship. A systematic review of the literature has been conducted across four databases following the PRISMA statement guidelines. Out of 410 screened abstracts, 78 articles were selected for full-text review. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 21 studies were included in the current review. Thematic analysis was conducted on these studies and results were discussed by three reviewers. Help-seekers tended to use informal sources of help, perceived to be ambivalently helpful. Formal sources tended to be utilized sparingly, except for counselors. Many formal sources were perceived to be unhelpful, and most of the studies identified several barriers to services that prevented effective help. Formal and helpful sources were perceived as knowledgeable and sensitive about LGB themes. While existing research is limited, formal services that can provide effective care for SSIPV appear scarce. Barriers to services seem widespread, limiting accessibility. Existing services would benefit from increasing their knowledge and sensitivity on SSIPV-specific themes. The development of policies, programs, and interventions that aim to provide effective help is needed, as well as more research.

Rollè L., Santoniccolo F., D'Amico D., Trombetta T.

Perras N., Sternfeld I., Fei S., Fischer B., Richards G., Chun K.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a pressing public health issue. Nationally, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men have sustained severe physical violence from an intimate partner. Intimate partner homicides (IPH) are the most serious IPV outcome. This study examined documented IPH in Los Angeles County during 2017, analyzing if precipitating circumstances, victim demographics, victim/suspect relationship, and weapon type were related to how often a homicide was reported in online media stories. Cases were identified from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), and standardized internet searches identified media articles associated with each case. Victim demographics from NVDRS and media articles were compared using Chi Square tests. Media report frequency, within different categorical predictor values, were examined using ANOVA models. 44 incidents were identified; averaging 5.2 articles per decedent. Univariate analyses showed significant difference in media reporting by poverty level (low versus high socioeconomic status) and presence of preceding argument. Multivariate analyses found significantly more media reports (p = 0.002) for incidents in which a preceding argument is reported, the victim was 30–39 years old and from a low socioeconomic status zip code. From our results certain characteristics of IPH are associated with greater media reporting. Promotion of consistent and responsible IPH media reporting guidelines is an opportunity to reinforce public health messaging and dispel myths. In turn, this will encourage the development of future policies and funding streams across the spectrum of preventing and stopping IPV.

Little B.

Intimate partner violence (IPV)Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has historically been perceived, and thus examined and explained, as a violent act perpetrated against women by men. However, self-report surveys indicate that heterosexual and gayGay males, as well as lesbiansLesbian, experience IPV at similar rates as heterosexual women. The question of whether IPV victimization is experienced symmetrically, by both women and men, is more difficult to answer than the data would suggest. Many barriers prevent the reporting of IPV such as gender roleGender roles expectations and heteronormative views of relationships. The Feminist TheoryFeminist theory explains IPVIntimate Partner Violence (IPV) as a form of power and control used to reinforce a patriarchal society, which explains a male-dominant or masculine perception of perpetrators. Other theories, such as Johnson’s Typology, suggest that the violence seen in IPV is bilateral in direction—or that both partners act as perpetrators and victims—which may explain gender-symmetryGender symmetry in IPVIntimate Partner Violence (IPV). To examine the question of gender symmetryGender symmetry in IPV, this chapter will describe the fundamental beliefs underlying the perceptions of relationships, partner and gender-rolesGender roles, and the social norms that create our perceptions of IPVIntimate Partner Violence (IPV).