When violence meets a heteronormative system : A study of professionals experience of heteronormativity in working with same-sex couples and transgenderindividuals exposed to intimate partner violence

The study's aim is to examine how professionals perceive that homosexuals and transgender individuals in couple relationships are affected by heteronormative assumptions that permeate social work in connection with treatment practices. The central queries are, in what way do heteronormative assumptions influence the treatment of same-sex couples exposed to intimate partner violence? And in what way do heteronormative assumptions influence the treatment of transgender individuals in relationships who are exposed to intimate partner violence? Heteronormative assumptions about gender roles continue to shape societal understandings of intimate partner violence (IPV), influencing how victims and perpetrators are identified and treated. Prevailing discourses on IPV largely frame it as a heterosexual phenomenon, with men positioned as perpetrators and women as victims. This framework risks obscuring violence in same-sex relationships and relationships involving transgender individuals, making it more difficult för professionals to recognize and respond to such violence. Statistical representations and policy priorities further reinforce the gendered and heteronormative understanding, contributing to the marginalization of non-heterosexual victims. Research suggests that professionals' assessments of risk, severity, and intervention needs are influenced by these dominant narratives, often leading to the minimization or misinterpretations of violence in same-sex relationships. Consequently, heteronormativity within social work and treatment practices may negatively affect the support and interventions available to homosexual and transgender individuals exposed to intimate partner violence. Findings show that societal and organizational norms often frame men as perpetrators and women as victims, marginalizing non-heterosexual clients. Professionals' awareness of these norms varies and often arises only in atypical cases. Heteronormative assumptions in materials and interventions hinder identification and support, especially for men in same-sex relationships and transgender clients. Individualized, inclusive approaches, gender-neutral guidelines, and LGBTQ-specific training are key to ensuring equitable social work and improving access to help.