He Hits, She Hits: Assessing Gender Differences and Similarities in Officially Reported Intimate Partner Violence

Within the study of intimate partner violence (IPV), controversy exists over whether perpetration and victimization of domestic violence is gender specific (gendered). Some researchers maintain no or few gender differences in IPV offending and victimization, particularly at less severe levels. Others argue that IPV is highly gendered and perpetrated largely by men against their female partners and expartners. Using officially collected data (through pretrial services and police reports) in a large Midwestern city, this study examined 2,670 IPV cases of which 14% had female defendants. This study was an effort to further clarify the debate regarding gender differences and similarities in reports of perpetration, victimization, context, and consequences of IPV. The two political and research perspectives that guide this debate, the family violence and feminist perspectives, are also discussed.