Lesbians Talk Violent Relationships

That lesbian relationships can be violent and abusive, rather than the woman-to-woman utopias of feminist myth-making, is a well-kept secret. But how prevalent is violence and coercion in lesbian experience? How do the different kinds of abuse - physical, psychological and sexual - manifest themselves and what are the consequences? Are alcohol and drug misuse, internalised homophobia and childhood abuse causes or symptoms? How can we challenge the myth that violence appears only in S/M or butch-femme relationships? And what should you do if you find yourself in a relationship which is becoming violent or coercive? Lesbians Talk Violent Relationships is the first book on abusive lesbian relationships to be published in the UK. Basing their research on an extensive survey of survivors' own experiences, the authors draw up a picture of how abuse happens and how we might deal with it. Essential reading for professionals working with violence and abuse, lesbians who have for too long ignored the problem - and, of course, for anyone who has survived or is undergoing an abusive relationship.

That lesbian relationships can be violent and abusive, rather than the woman-to-woman utopias of feminist myth-making, is a well-kept secret. But how prevalent is violence and coercion in lesbian experience? How do the different kinds of abuse - physical, psychological and sexual - manifest themselves and what are the consequences? Are alcohol and drug misuse, internalised homophobia and childhood abuse causes or symptoms? How can we challenge the myth that violence appears only in S/M or butch-femme relationships? And what should you do if you find yourself in a relationship which is becoming violent or coercive? Lesbians Talk Violent Relationships is the first book on abusive lesbian relationships to be published in the UK. Basing their research on an extensive survey of survivors' own experiences, the authors draw up a picture of how abuse happens and how we might deal with it. Essential reading for professionals working with violence and abuse, lesbians who have for too long ignored the problem - and, of course, for anyone who has survived or is undergoing an abusive relationship.