Northeastern Illinois University Assistant Professor of Justice Studies and Women's and Gender Studies Adam Messinger has published his first book, “LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence: Lessons for Policy, Practice, and Research.” The book is published by the University of California Press.
Nationally representative studies confirm that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals are at an elevated risk of experiencing intimate partner violence. While many similarities exist between LGBTQ and heterosexual-cisgender intimate partner violence, research has illuminated a variety of unique aspects of LGBTQ intimate partner violence regarding the predictors of perpetration, the specific forms of abuse experienced, barriers to help-seeking for victims and policy and intervention needs.
“Not all violence is the same,” Messinger said. “While the one-size-fits-all approach to addressing violence sounds inclusive, many services and policies are not designed to address the problems that are unique to the LGBTQ community.”
“LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence: Lessons for Policy, Practice, and Research” is the first book that systematically reviews the literature regarding LGBTQ intimate partner violence, draws key lessons for current practice and policy, and recommends research areas and enhanced methodologies.
Messinger’s book is “invaluable” to researchers, practitioners, policymakers, advocates and survivors, according to Claire M. Renzetti, the Judi Conway Patton Endowed Chair for Studies of Violence against Women, and Professor and Chair of Sociology at the University of Kentucky.
“Adam M. Messinger reminds us that although much has changed since the 1980s and ’90s—and for the better—a great deal unfortunately remains unchanged,” Renzetti said. “But he shows us the way forward by highlighting the knowledge gaps and suggesting practical solutions for making ‘the invisible visible.’ ”
Messinger’s publication is “the definitive book on domestic violence in LGBTQ communities and is destined to be a classic,” according to Walter S. DeKeseredy, the Anna Deane Carlson Endowed Chair of Social Sciences, Director of the Research Center on Violence, and Professor of Sociology at West Virginia University.
