A Cross-National Comparison of Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence

AuthorTod W. Burke,Michael L. Jordan,Stephen S. Owen
Published date01 August 2002
Date01 August 2002
DOIhttp://doi.org/10.1177/1043986202018003003
Subject MatterArticles
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice /August 2002Burkeetal./GAYANDLESBIAN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A Cross-National Comparison
of Gay and Lesbian Domestic Violence
TOD W.BURKE
Radford University
MICHAEL L.JORDAN
Lamar University
STEPHENS.OWEN
Radford University
This research examines the prevalence of same-sex domestic violence in the United States and
Venezuela.Data were collected through a survey administered using snowball and convenience
sampling. Approximately two thirds of the sample in both countries reported experiencingsome
form of domestic violence, although substantially fewerhad received information about or knew
of resources supporting victims of same-sex domestic violence. In addition, respondents were
surveyed about attitudes toward law enforcement and courts. Venezuelan respondents viewed
law enforcement significantly more negatively than United States respondents, butthere were
not significant differences regarding perceptions of courts. Conclusions and practical implica-
tions are offered.
Acommon claim among authors of research about same-sex domestic
violence (in gay and lesbian relationships) is that the topic has largely
been neglected (Burke, 1998;Burke, Owen, &Jordan, 2001;Merrill &
Wolfe, 2000;Turell, 2000). Although previous research has focused on iso-
lated studies within the United States, with the exception of Burkeetal.
(2001), international comparisons have been nonexistent. Furthermore, the
231
All three authorscontributed equally to this work. Listed authorship is alphabetical with agree-
ment to rearrange authorship order on futurecollaborations. Data-collection assistance was
provided by Reynaldo Hidalgo L. of the Escuela de Criminologia, Universidad de los Andes,
Merida, Venezuelaand by Radford University, Department of Criminal Justice, graduateassis-
tant JasonM. Rexrode. At the time this research was conducted and the manuscript was written,
all three authors were affiliatedwith Radford University.
Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice, Vol.18 No. 3, August 2002 231-257
© 2002 Sage Publications
relationship between the gay and lesbian community and the criminal justice
system has not been carefully examined. This research builds on Burke
et al.s (2001) lead in conducting a cross-national examination of same-sex
domestic violence and includes important variables about the relationship
between the gay community and each nationsrespective legal system as part
of the analysis. This research compares same-sex domestic violence and gay
and lesbian perceptions of criminal justice system legitimacy in the United
States and Venezuela.
Although research has established that same-sex domestic violence exists
in the United States, no scientific study has examined the problem in cross-
national context. Research was facilitated by one of the coauthors of this arti-
cle who has extensive knowledge of Venezuela, as a former resident and
researcher of Venezuelan criminal justice. It was for this reason that Vene-
zuela was selected for comparison. In spite of the cultural and political differ-
ences between Venezuelaand the United States, same-sex domestic violence
still occurs in both countries. Yet, there is little data on the ways in which
same-sex domestic violence transcends national boundaries.
Cross-national study of virtually any topic is valuable because important
insights (cultural, political, and social) can be gleaned, often with practical
implications. Furthermore, cross-national study allows for additional theory
building and hypothesis testing. Examination of the relationship between the
gay and lesbian community and law enforcement is important for advancing
knowledge about same-sexdomestic violence and may prove useful for inter-
vention and prevention strategies.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Defining Same-Sex Domestic Violence
There are a variety of definitions of domestic violence (Farley, 1985;
Island &Letellier, 1991;Walber, 1988). This article will rely on the follow-
ing definition offered by Burke(1998):
Gay domestic violence will be defined as a means to control others through
power,including physical and psychological threats (verbal and nonverbal)
or injury (to the victim or to others), isolation, economic deprivation,
heterosexist control, sexual assaults, vandalism (destruction of property),
or any combination of methods. (p. 164)
Under this broad definition, a varietyof activities may constitute domestic
violence. Physical harm and threats of physical harm are commonly under-
stood components of domestic violence, but it can also include verbal harass-
232 Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice /August 2002

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