Research investigating transgender people's experiences of intimate partner violence/abuse (aka domestic violence)

Have your voice heard

The research being conducted is an investigation of intimate partner violence/abuse (IPV/A: aka Domestic Violence (DV) outside the boundaries of traditionally recognised violence against cisgender women. The purpose of the research is to investigate transgender people’s experiences of IPV/A  including their experiences of help seeking where applicable. Questions are also asked about the dynamics of the relationship to determine whether, and to what extent power imbalances exist within abusive relationships. 

Research aims & objectives:

Aims 
1. To identify the prevalence and aetiology of intimate partner violence/abuse in transgender relationships with consideration for intersectionality.
2. To identify trans specific elements of abuse 
3. To determine the impact of IPV/A against trans-people.
4. To identify the barriers to support for trans individuals.

Objectives
1. To identify the specific needs of under acknowledged victims of IPV/A 
2. To inform recommendations for the development of population specific provisions across services
3. To inform understanding of IPV/A within academia and across service providers
4. To inform theories of domestic violence in support of developing programmes and services to better assist in the prevention and treatment of trans victims and offenders of IPV/A.

This research as received full ethical approval from the University of Huddersfield School Research and Ethics Panel (SREP: review No. JW/KO/310712) and the questionnaire has undergone expert validation which was conducted by Professors, and PhD researchers at the University of Huddersfield.

The on-line questionnaire employs a mixed methodology asking open and closed questions seeking to identify IPV/A experiences in transgender individuals’ relationships. Participation in the research is voluntary and completely anonymous with no identifying details requested; full confidentiality is assured throughout. 

A second on-line questionnaire is running alongside the first to determine the prevalence of IPV/A within the trans* community, you do not have to have experienced IPV/A to complete this survey, which should take no more than 10 minutes, have your say!

As well as the online survey's transgender individuals are invited to participate in online, telephone or face to face interviews. The interview schedule will be developed from the findings of the initial stage's of the research. The interviews will be employed to build on the information retrieved through the surveys and explore any pertinent factors that might arise during the initial stage. You do not have to have experienced IPV/A to take part in interviews. Email: hudresearch@gmail.co.uk if you would like to contribute to this research.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the prevalence, incidence, and aetiology of IPV/A against transgender individuals, which comprises a complex of research questions.

1. What role [if any] do relationship dynamics have on IPV/A?

2. What similarities/differences exist in types and severity of abuse across gender and sexuality?

3. Do transgender individuals experience similar adverse health effects as recognised in cisgender women?

4. Who do transgender individuals confide in and/or contact about their abuse?

5. What are transgender individuals experiences of helping services such as domestic violence services, police, and medical professionals?

In-depth inquiry into trans experiences of intimate partner violence/abuse is required to inform social and political understanding and gain valid recognition across academia and DV service providers to ensure that the health and welfare of trans is given the utmost consideration. Historical schools of thought emanating from gender bias reasoning provide little if any insight into how society can respond to non-prototypical victims of IPV/A though they do provide a framework from which to build a new knowledge base. 

Acknowledging, understanding and accepting that IPV/A exists outside the boundaries of violence against cisgender women is essential to developing theory for practical and research ends. Employing a mixed methods approach not only adds to knowledge but also makes a case for effectively changing life situations, giving this research a political impetus for social justice. It is expected that this research will be a forefront for future research and contribute greatly to contemporary understanding of IPV/A, informing public opinion, practice, and future research.

what is domestic violence?

It is likely that the question above [what is domestic violence?] filled your head with images of men beating women. indeed traditional recognition of domestic violence depicts 'violence against women'. even in policy, legislation and research, this biased view takes precedence in societies all over the world. 

In actual fact the meaning of domestic violence as become entangled in family violence and numerous definitions confuse even traditional recognition of domestic violence. For this reason i wrote my first paper in conjunction with my PhD (still in progress) on the definitional dilemma, anyone interested can read the paper here: http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/11786/2/GavinInterpretations.pdf my conclusions led me to define Intimate Partner Abuse (IPA) under the umbrella term of domestic violence as a means of describing the phenomena i intend to research, although i admit being slightly ignorant in my reference to 'men and women' and in future papers this is changed to 'any individual' to be all inclusive and incorporate transgender populations. 

Narrowing the definition enables us to identify with other victims of domestic violence outside of the gendered phenomenon that receives the most attention. that is to say, we can recognise that domestic violence or IPA occur across all relationship types regardless of sexual or gender identity. however, it is not enough to recognise that couples of all orientations can experience IPA, then apply the same theoretical models and interventions to diverse populations. we need to develop new theories and new interventions, raise awareness within communities and the wider society, and get recognition in policy, practise and research.

many people view domestic violence as physical assault placing emphasis on the term 'violence'. however, domestic violence [IPA] is much more complex than this, as anyone who has experienced it will testify. The use of sexual, psychological, emotional, verbal, financial/economic abuse of one partner against the other can have just as much detrimental effect as physical assault/threat, if not more so. another myth is that domestic violence only occurs in married couples, in actuality it occurs across all age groups whether dating, married or cohabitating. 

so if you or someone you know is miserable all the time because they feel unhappy/inadequate in their relationship, it could be that they are experiencing IPA. often this is unintentional and the abusive partner doesn't even realise the impact their behaviour is having on their loved one, on these occasions it is likely that recognition of IPA would encourage change to resolve the problematic relationship. however, on other occasions the IPA is deliberate, a means of control, motivate by numerous inadequacies, real or imagined in the abuser. in these instances victims need supportive interventions that cater to their needs. which brings us back to the lack of recognition of domestic violence in non-traditional relationships, experienced by people other than 'women'. 

before anyone thinks, i have no idea what I'm talking about, i actually fit into the centre of bell shaped curve of the traditionally recognised survivor of domestic violence, [an heterosexual white women]. I experienced physical violence, emotional and psychological control and abuse, stalking, and had my dog killed by my ex-partner 'because i love the dog more than him' but i do not think that i am alone, or that i belong to an elite club of female victims. as well as having several female friends experiencing domestic violence in the traditional sense, I have male friends who have experienced abuse from their female partners, and I have LGB friends who have either experienced abusive relationships themselves or know someone who has. on top of this a research out in 2010 identified the prevalence of intimate partner abuse in transgender relationships. just to put a this into context UK home office results 2006 showed that 1 in 4 heterosexual women; 1 in 4 LGB persons and 1 in 6 heterosexual men experience domestic violence in their lifetime. of course we can critique here their definition of domestic violence, but as a general guide, i would say this shows that domestic violence is not a gendered crime, and we shouldn't tolerate it in any relationship. 

recognition of IPA is the first step, that doesn't necessarily mean the victim needs to recognise the situation, it could be anyone, family, friends even an acquaintance who points out their dysfunctional relationship. don't suffer in silence and don't allow others to suffer alone.