Husband Abuse: Fact or Fiction?

Are Female Stalkers More Violent Than Male Stalkers? Understanding Gender Differences in Stalking Violence Using Contemporary Sociocultural Beliefs

“…Dutton and Winstead (2006) did not offer an explanation for why females may perpetrate more stalking violence and this research finding is yet to be replicated. Nevertheless, similar trends have been reported in intimate partner violence research whereby community and student surveys indicate that females perpetrate higher, or at least comparable, rates of intimate partner violence even though victim and legally-defined samples typically comprise disproportionate numbers of male perpetrators (see Archer 2000, cross-national meta-analysis;de Vries Robbe et al 1996, Australian emergency patients;Headey et al 1999, Australian community;Sarantakos 1999, review of Australian and international research; Stewart and Maddren 1997, Australian police officers). Therefore, it is possible that community and student perpetration surveys identify hidden rates of both female-perpetrated stalking and violence, at least in the context of relational stalking.…”

“…This gender asymmetry has been upheld across victim and legally-defined samples in Australia (Purcell et al 2002), USA (Tjaden and Thoennes 1998), UK (Budd et al 2000) and Germany (Dressing et al 2007). Analogous gender patterns have been identified in the intimate partner violence literature whereby males' intimate partner violence victimisation is thought to be underestimated for similar reasons (e.g., Cercone et al 2005, US students;Fontes 2007;Sarantakos 1999, Australian review; Stewart and Maddren 1997, Australian police officers; Tjaden and Thoennes 2000, US community). Consequently, it is possible that female-to-male stalking behaviour may be underestimated in victim and legallydefined samples even when this behaviour escalates to violence.…”

Sex Differences in Response to Victimization by an Intimate Partner: More Stigmatization and Less Help-Seeking among Males

“…Self-defense is clearly an important predictor of some females' use of violence against intimate partners (e.g., Stuart et al, 2006); however, it is short-sighted to assume it is the sole motivation for all females' aggression. Indeed, self-defense explains only a minimal proportion of females' partner-directed aggression (Felson & Messner, 1998;Sarantakos, 1999). Similar to males, females' use of aggression has been linked to jealousy, anger, punishing their partner's infidelity, and attempts at controlling or dominating their partner (Arnocky, Sunderani, Miller, & Vaillancourt, 2012;Babcock, Miller, & Siard, 2003;Cascardi & Dasgupta, 2002;Graham-Kevan & Archer, 2009;Hettrich & O'Leary, 2007;Hines & Malley-Morrison, 2001;Stets & Hammons, 2002).…”

Masculinity of Men Communicating Abuse Victimization

“…The most extreme type of IPV relationship is known as intimate terrorism (Johnson, 2008). Believed to primarily involve female victims, intimate terrorism is also experienced by men (Eckstein, 2009;Sarantakos, 1999). Victims of intimate terrorism are subjected to coercive control: support systems are weakened, distrust is cultivated, and humiliation is enforced through identity attacks (Romero, 1985).…”