This book provides the first detailed discussion of domestic violence and abuse in same-sex relationships, offering a unique comparison between same-sex and heterosexual contexts. Catherine Donovan and Marianne Hester examine how experiences of domestic violence and abuse are shaped by gender, sexuality, and age, seeking to understand what factors drive victims to seek—or not seek—help. Employing a methodology that includes both quantitative and qualitative research, they provide a new framework of analysis—what they call “practices of love”—that challenges heteronormative models of engaging domestic violence in research, policy, and practice. Reviews and Endorsements: “Domestic Violence and Sexuality changes the public story about domestic violence. The heart of the book is the rich trove of interviews in which female and male identified survivors reflect on their experience. Respectful, often heartbreaking, and always instructive, this work sets a gold standard for how we understand domestic abuse in same-sex relationships.” — Evan Stark, Rutgers University School of Public Affairs and Administration “Donovan and Hester present compelling new research that explores love and violence in both same-sex and heterosexual relationships. We see the impact of societal and cultural beliefs on experiences of domestic violence across different genders and sexualities. This is essential reading for researchers and practitioners who want to stop partner abuse and promote respectful and equal relationships.” — Janice Ristock, University of Manitoba “This book is not just about domestic violence and abuse in same-sex relationships, although its contributions in that arena would be more than enough for me to call it a ‘must read.’ Beyond that, Donovan and Hester’s analysis of their data in terms of both power/control and practices of love provides insights that go beyond same-sex relationships and beyond intimate partner violence.” — Michael P. Johnson, Pennsylvania State University About the Authors: Catherine Donovan is professor of social relations at the University of Sunderland. She is coauthor of Families of Choice and Other Life Experiments. Marianne Hester is professor of gender, violence, and international policy at the University of Bristol. |