Forgotten Victims: A Qualitative Study of Familial and Intimate Partner Abuse of Male-to-Female Transgender Individuals in Central Kentucky

<p>Previous research on intimate partner and familial abuse has focused on easily identifiable social institutions, such as "homosexual couple" or "mother/daughter." However, transgender individuals do not always fit into the binary social definitions ascribed to family relationships. Little research has provided insight into cycles of familial and intimate partner verbal or physical abuse in the lives of transgender individuals. The efforts that have been made have shocking results and demonstrate a need for further and more in-depth research. The primary purpose of this research is to gain a rich understanding of the social dynamics affecting the lives of transgender individuals in central Kentucky; specifically, their family and relationship structures. Using an almost ethnographic approach, the researcher fully immersed herself in the subculture of the trans community, attending support group meetings and going out with the group members to places such as wig shops or used clothing stores in order to gain trust and acceptance. The findings were placed in the context of current theoretical literature about intimate partner and familial abuse. </p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Justice Studies

Grantor dc:publisher

Eastern Kentucky University

Year

2012

Author dc:creator

• Willingham, Allison Brooke

• abuse
• domestic violence
• LGBT
• transgender
• Criminology
• Criminology and Criminal Justice
• Gender and Sexuality

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Allison Brooke Willingham

Repository record dc:identifier

https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/119

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:encompass.eku.edu:etd-1118