Gender Identity, Self-Esteem, and Physical and Sexual Abuse in Dating Relationships

Abstract

This paper examines the roles of gender identity and self-esteem in both physical and sexual abuse in dating relationships. A sample of heterosexual college dating relationships is examined. Data are collected on both inflicting and sustaining physical and sexual abuse for men and for women. No support is found for the long-held theory that abuse is a result of compulsive masculinity. Instead, in accordance with identity theory, we find that physical and sexual abuse are associated with the playing out of a less masculine (more feminine) identity for both males and females. In addition, low self-esteem appears to be associated with inflicting physical abuse for men and sexual abuse for women only in a spurious fashion: both low self-esteem and inflicting abuse result from a more feminine gender identity. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Social Psychology Quarterly, 1988. Copyright © 1988 by the American Sociological Association) Gender Roles Adult Female Adult Male Adult Offender Adult Self-Esteem Adult Victim Adult Violence Female Self-Esteem Female Victim Female Violence Female Offender Male Self-Esteem Male Offender Male Victim Male Violence College Student Research Partner Violence Violence Against Women Dating Violence Causes Dating Violence Offender Dating Violence Victim Date Rape Sexual Assault Causes Sexual Assault Victim Sexual Assault Offender Offender Self-Esteem Victim Self-Esteem Gender Differences 01-03