Discuss about the Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual Minority.
IVP or intimate partner violence is identified as a significant issue that has considerable mental and physical consequences for the witnesses and more so for the victim. The mainstream research has been concerned with the gender-based violence encountered by women in a heterosexual relationship (O’HALLORAN, 2015). As a corollary, the conversation around the incidents of intimate partner violence in the queer remains largely unaddressed and worsens due to the lack vigorous interventions by the state and non-state actors. The paper is set in the backdrop of domestic abuse and intimate partner violence among the LGBTIQ in Australia. The paper commences with the understanding of the representation and associated connotations with the community, followed by an outlining of the human rights provision guaranteed under UNHCR (United Nations Human Rights) and an investigation into the nature and magnitude of IVP and DVA (Domestic violence and abuse) in the queer community.
The term LGBTIQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual) refers to gender diverse or sexually diverse communities who popularly are known as the queer community. This community represents a wide diversity and uses a range of terminologies and vocabulary to describe the gender identity, ascribed sexual identity, sexuality and sexual practice of the individuals. Although, many queer individuals in the western culture identify with one identity or the other, many individuals in the community do not identify themselves with any of the labels present in the umbrella terms of LGBTIQ. According to Horsely et al., (2016) in Australia, people of diverse orientations and sex constitutes of 11 per cent of the population. They further argue that even if the victims from the queer community approach the General Practitioners (GPs), the latter might lack adequate knowledge to cater to their needs.
According to the United Nations Resolution people from diverse gender identities and sexual orientations are guaranteed protection (OHCHR | LGBT UN Resolutions., 2018). On June 30, 2016, UNHCR provisioned that no individual shall be discriminated based on his or her diverse identities (UN Makes History on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, 2018). They established an independent expert to look into the plight of the queer community. It was felt that there is an urgent need to bring to attention, the discrimination and exclusion faced by the non-conforming persons of all regions of the world. This was perceived as a historic resolution in the commitment towards equality.
Domestic violence among the LGBTIQ groups are largely invisibilized due to and therefore, they have been ignored from the government policies and interventions. The academic scholarship on intimate partner violence has remained silent about the plight of the victims of intimate partner violence (IVP) among the homosexual groups. This invisibilization and lack of understanding of the issue can be attributed to the heteronormative worldview of relationships. Domestic violence and Abuse (DVA) has largely focussed on the plight of the heterosexual couples. In case of transgender women, their experience of abuse and domestic violence largely goes unacknowledged (Brown & Herman, 2015). Service providers are not trained to cater to such inclusive services. Riggs et al, (2016), in their study found that the experiences of the trans-people are glaringly under-reported. It is argued that transgender people may be prone to greater violence compared to their cis-gender counterparts. Due to the culture stigma, shrouding the lives of the homosexual community, they are less likely to report about their everyday experiences of violence fearing counter-reaction and shaming from the mainstream society. Due to this ideology, there is a gap in understanding abusive relationships outside the framework of heteronormative relationships. Scholars have further argued that multiple marginalities make the victims more prone to violence.
It is unfortunate that Australian Bureau Statistics Personal Safety Survey (2013) are not involved in collecting data on the problems pertaining to the LGBTIQ. Similarly, the International Violence against women ahs remained oblivious to this widely prevalent issue. It was only with the intervention of the Australian Research Centre for Health and Sexuality (ARCHS) that the magnitude of the issue came in the limelight. According to the national survey 28 per cent individuals who identify themselves as female and 41 per cent individuals who identify themselves as males have been subjected to corporeal violence in the same-sex relationship. Further, it was found that 25 per cent of the participants have been subjected to sexual assault in the same-sex relationship. In case female identifying respondents and trans respondents, the intensity was greater. According to Szalacha et al., (2017), around 78 per cent of the abuse faced by the queer partners in intimate relationships are psychological whereas 58 per cent of the abuse are of physical in nature. Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer communities, 2018). According to Donovan & Barnes, (2017) 26 per cent respondents have been subjected to sexual violence in the same-sex relationship. Therefore, these findings reiterate that violence among the LGBTIQ community is at par with the heterosexual population.
The feminist understanding of IVP (Intimate Partner Violence) is understood to be an outcome of the patriarchal structure. According to the feminist lens of domestic violence gender inequality prevalent in the society along with the gender, binaries and enacting the gender roles are reasons for violence. It is not just the state, the academia or the mainstream society that has remained oblivious to the rising incidents of domestic violence among the LGBTIQ but also the community themselves have been unable to recognize the incidence and magnitude of violence persisting within intimate partner relationships (Badenes-Ribera et al., 2016). Scholars and activists have identified the terms coercive control and intimate terrorism to understand the nature of intimate partner violence among the community. These terms underline that violence among intimate partners is an outcome of coercion, control and power and that violence has sexual, emotional and physical underpinnings (Donovan & Barnes, 2017). This framework of understanding the layers and nuances of gender violence has been the most refined and insightful approach until now. It is argued that the DVA survivors belonging to different communities and possessing diverse orientations are in need of the same kind of resources and support. However, the service providers have the responsibility to understand the distinctive lifeworld of the clients. The nature of violence prevalent among the transgender community is different and therefore, the service providers need o be sensitive while dealing with such clients (Rees et al., 2016). It is found that the identity of the transgender becomes a cause of inflicting violence and abuse on the person. One of the reasons for which there is a silence within the community is the fear of coming out in the open about their identity and pushed to further trauma and victimization.
Recently the Queensland government has spent $155, 000 for the training of frontline workers to ensure that there is much more better response to address the cause of the intimate partner violence among the LGBTIQ. The Government has decided to equip frontline workers so that they are able to identify family violence in the LGBTIQ community and urgently responds to the victim, children and also the perpetrators of violence. This responsibility has been entrusted to Queensland Aids Council, there needs to be an appropriate, and target support services for the homosexual community.
Conclusion
The paper tried to raise attention the pertinent issue of intimate partner violence among the queer individuals with a special focus on Australia. It was found that the incidents of sexual violence are quite alarming among the queer community and it is stigma and the heteronormative understanding of domestic abuse that is keeping away state and non-state actors from making interventions.
This advertisement encourages the gay men to be aware about their health and exhorts the gay community to actively participate in awareness about HIV-Aids.
Source- (ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyXrxaXpRJ8)
This encapsulates the experience of Fa’afafine who is born as a boy but identifies a girl. It details the violence inflicted and the stigma faced by the samoan boys who do not conform to their ascribed gender identity.
Source- (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9xvkCa63Js)
This advertisement addresses the poignant snippets of gender non-conforming students and the diversity within the community. They urge their educators to be more sensitive towards their identities. The advertisement highlights their exhortation for right to live with respect and dignity within the educational institution.
Source- (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnbnF8QAnsY)
This content centres around the statistics of workplace discrimination faced by the LGBTIQ. I also documents the policies adopted by the Columbian Government and proposes recommendations to deal with such issues
Source- (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1e86d3U13U)
This focuses on the abuse faced by a gay person from his partner and his trauma following the incident. It also highlights his fear of being stigmatized for communicating this to his family and the severe mental health condition that he to bear due to his sexual orientation.
References
Badenes-Ribera, L., Bonilla-Campos, A., Frias-Navarro, D., Pons-Salvador, G., & Monterde-i-Bort, H. (2016). Intimate partner violence in self-identified lesbians: A systematic review of its prevalence and correlates. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 17(3), 284-297.
Brown, T., & Herman, J. (2015). Intimate partner violence and sexual abuse among LGBT people. Los Angeles, CA: The Williams Institute.
Donovan, C., & Barnes, R. (2017). Domestic violence and abuse in lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (LGB and/or T) relationships. Sexualities, 1363460716681491.
Edwards, K. M., Sylaska, K. M., & Neal, A. M. (2015). Intimate partner violence among sexual minority populations: A critical review of the literature and agenda for future research. Psychology of Violence, 5(2), 112.
Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer communities. (2018). Child Family Community Australia. Retrieved 1 April 2018, from https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/intimate-partner-violence-lgbtiq-communities
Lewis, R. J., Mason, T. B., Winstead, B. A., & Kelley, M. L. (2017). Empirical investigation of a model of sexual minority specific and general risk factors for intimate partner violence among lesbian women. Psychology of violence, 7(1), 110.
O’HALLORAN, K. (2015). Family violence in an LGBTIQ context.
OHCHR | LGBT UN Resolutions. (2018). Ohchr.org. Retrieved 1 April 2018, from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Discrimination/Pages/LGBTUNResolutions.aspx
Rees, S., Fisher, J., Moussa, B., & Horsley, P. (2016). Intimate partner violence and LGBTIQ people: raising awareness in general practice.
Riggs, D., Taylor, N., Fraser, H., Donovan, C., & Signal, T. (2018). The link between domestic violence and abuse and animal cruelty in the intimate relationships of people of diverse genders and/or sexualities: A bi-national study.Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
Szalacha, L. A., Hughes, T. L., McNair, R., & Loxton, D. (2017). Mental health, sexual identity, and interpersonal violence: Findings from the Australian longitudinal Women’s health study. BMC women’s health, 17(1), 94.
UN Makes History on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity …. Retrieved 2018, from https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/06/30/un-makes-history-sexual-orientation-gender-identity
Essay Writing Service Features
Our Experience
No matter how complex your assignment is, we can find the right professional for your specific task. Contact Essay is an essay writing company that hires only the smartest minds to help you with your projects. Our expertise allows us to provide students with high-quality academic writing, editing & proofreading services.
Free Features
Free revision policy
$10Free bibliography & reference
$8Free title page
$8Free formatting
$8How Our Essay Writing Service Works
First, you will need to complete an order form. It's not difficult but, in case there is anything you find not to be clear, you may always call us so that we can guide you through it. On the order form, you will need to include some basic information concerning your order: subject, topic, number of pages, etc. We also encourage our clients to upload any relevant information or sources that will help.
Complete the order form
Once we have all the information and instructions that we need, we select the most suitable writer for your assignment. While everything seems to be clear, the writer, who has complete knowledge of the subject, may need clarification from you. It is at that point that you would receive a call or email from us.
Writer’s assignment
As soon as the writer has finished, it will be delivered both to the website and to your email address so that you will not miss it. If your deadline is close at hand, we will place a call to you to make sure that you receive the paper on time.
Completing the order and download