Men who beat the men who love them : battered gay men and domestic violence /

Island and Letellier have produced a provocative examination of a unique form of domestic violence--battered gay males. Because of the lack of research on interpersonal violence within gay relationships, the authors extrapolate a good bit of their conclusions from case studies and parallel research. They are to be commended for their careful analysis and conservative estimations regarding the extent of this problem. Much of their theoretical argument compares and contrasts the topic with research on domestic violence within heterosexual relationships. The result is a strong overview of the field and a useful model for future research. The book focuses on unraveling the interpersonal dynamics of abuse. The authors treat this relationship as it evolves between the victim, his victimizer, and the couple's social network. The goal of this effort is to isolate the early signals of abuse and help couples break the cycle of violence. Information is provided for those who want to establish social support groups. An interesting section of the book discusses current definitions and approaches among service providers, and demonstrates problems with intervention efforts and the need for social awareness. The book should appeal to a general audience and also prove useful for those with a scholarly interest in the subject. J. Lynxwiler University of Central Florida

Both a groundbreaking exposure of gay battering and a self-help book for gay men who face the double burden of being victims for whom there are no shelters and little sympathy. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.