Women's Use of Intimate Partner Violence Against Men: Prevalence, Implications, and Consequences

• NCJ Number: 229389
• Journal: Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma Volume: 18 Issue: 6 Dated: September 2009 Pages: 572-586
• Author(s): Denise A. Hines; Emily M. Douglass
• Date Published: September 2009
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: For related articles in this special issue see NCJ-229387-88 and NCJ-229390-93.

Annotation

This article examines the extent to which women use intimate partner violence (IPV) against male partners.

Abstract

Findings suggest that women use IPV against their male partners, and evidence also suggests that criminal justice and social service agencies are unsure of how to respond to or provide services to female perpetrators or male victims. Given the potentially serious physical and mental health consequences this can have, particularly for victims, there are compelling reasons why research in this area needs to move beyond the argument over who perpetrates more IPV and who suffers more as a consequence of IPV. The majority of research on men who sustain IPV makes these comparisons, and because the prevalence of male victimization may be lower and the injuries and mental health consequences to male victims may be less widespread or severe on average, the very severe consequences suffered by many men who sustain IPV have been largely overlooked. References