Domestic Violence in Same-Sex Couples Emily Johnson Erin Seldat-Kline April 19, 2012Johnson Domestic Violence in Same-Sex Couples typically when one is asked to think of domestic and intimate partner violence, one is inclined to picture a drunk overweight man in a wife-beater smacking his wife around while their children hide in their rooms. However, there is another dark side of domestic abuse that does not get near the attention it deserves: violence and abuse in same-sex relationships. Very Little is known about domestic and intimate partner violence within same-sex couples when compared with what is known about violence within heterosexual couples Research has continued to provide solid evidence supporting the notion that the prevalence of domestic abuse within same-sex relationships mirrora that of heterosexual relationships however, the differences lay in the help-seeking behaviors of the individuals involved and the resources available to them (Hester et al., 2010), as well as the methodologies implemented in studying same-sex domestic violence Several factors present obstacles that prevent researchers from collecting valid and reliable data concerning same-sex domestic vielence-obstacles that interfere with research results and thus cannot adequately represent the group studied Historically, research methods have developed and molded to fit and reflect the socio-economic and political context of the particular era. Also, with the introduction of new interest groups (and therefore new needs of these groups) these methodsJohnson Domestic Violence in Same-Sex Couples change. As such, different research methods with different levels of credibility and impact can be found across the globe (Hester et al., 2010). These differing methodologies can pose problems in accurately researching and documenting differences between genders. There exists a “gendered paradigm war” when it comes to researching domestic violence within same-sex relationships greater emphasis on qualitative research within lesbian couples on quantitative research within gay male couples. such qualitative research includes interviews and surveys, while quantitative research leans more towards questionnaires (Hester et al., 2010). This variety of methodologies often results in invalid and unreliable data. Recorded prevalence rates for physical violence have been shown to vary 88-69% in lesbian relationships and 118— 47% in gay male relationships (Hester et al., 2010). One of the earliest studies regarding same-sex domestic violence suggested a 47% perpetration rate amongst same-sex couples, but more recent results show that 47.5% of lesbian but only 29.78 of gay males experience intimate partner violence (Brown and Groscup 2008). Results from another study showed that within the sample represented, 22% of lesbian and 298 of gay male relationships have experienced regular abuse-physical, psychological emotional, sexual-from a partner (Hester et al., 2010)