J Fam Viol (2006) 21:233–243 DOI 10.1007/s10896-006-9020-8 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Perpetration of Gay and Lesbian Partner Violence: A Disempowerment Perspective Patrick C. McKenry · Julianne M. Serovich · Tina L. Mason · Katie Mosack Published online: 7 October 2006 C  Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006 Abstract Gay men and lesbians may experience domestic violence at rates as high as, or higher than heterosexuals, yet there is a noticeable absence of empirical research investi- gating this phenomenon. This study investigated same-sex partner violence from a disempowerment perspective to determine the influence of (a) individual characteristics, (b) family of origin factors, and (c) intimate relationship factors. A sample of 77 individuals in distressed relation- ships (40 gay men and 37 lesbians) were administered a series of quantitative measures in our project office. Data primarily were analyzed using two-way ANOVAs (gen- der × perpetrator of violence). The greatest number of differ- ences between perpetrators and nonperpetrators was found in individual characteristics. Implications for practitioners working with gay men and lesbians experiencing partner violence are discussed. Keywords Intimate partner violence . Gay men . Lesbians . Same-sex . Disempowerment Introduction In spite of a plethora of research on interpersonal violence among heterosexual intimate partners, very little is known about intimate partner violence in gay and lesbian relation- P. C. McKenry · J. M. Serovich () · T. L. Mason Department of Human Development and Family Science, The Ohio State University, 135 Campbell Hall, 1787 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA e-mail: Serovich.1@osu.edu K. Mosack University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201 ships. There is not much data on the frequency and inci- dence of same-sex intimate partner abuse. However, the few epidemiological studies available suggest that the rates of domestic violence in gay and lesbian relationships are at least as high, if not higher, than those among heterosex- ual couples (Greenwood, Relf, Huang, Pollack, Canchola, et al., 2002; Renzetti, 1989). These self-reported estimates are undoubtedly low, given the prejudicial and discrimina- tory climate many gay men and lesbians experience. Also, data suggest that the problem does not appear to be di- minishing; recently released national data indicate that gay and lesbian partner violence has increased 25% since 1991 and increased 23% just between the years 1998 and 1999 (Greenwood et al., 2002). Disempowerment Theory Some theoretical work has been done attempting to integrate the social and psychological aspects of domestic violence which appears applicable to gay and lesbian intimate part- ner violence (Dutton, 1998; O’Neil & Harway, 1999). These efforts indicate that physical and emotional abuse has been effectively conceptualized in a power/control paradigm, but not in a strictly feminist model (Gelles, 1999). According to disempowerment theory, those who feel inadequate or lack- ing self-efficiency are at risk of using unconventional means of power assertion, including violence (Archer, 1994). These individuals overcompensate by controlling persons they per- ceive threatening or who expose their insecurities (Gondolf, Fisher, Fisher, & McPherson, 1988). In their review of lit- erature, Malik and Lindahl (1998) found only a few no- table exceptions of research that address the role power has in relationships even though it is generally considered to be part of the conceptualization and treatment of domestic Springer