WXXI: Study Examines Relationship Violence in Deaf Community (2010-04-12)

WXXI: Study Examines Relationship Violence in Deaf Community (2010-04-12) ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - The RIT study compares incidences of relationship violence between Deaf and hearing students, and also delves into the experiences of gay and lesbian students. But the most dramatic finding relates to men. Researchers found that of the four types of relationship violence that they studied, Deaf men were more likely to experience all four. Deaf women were only more likely to experience one category of abuse more frequently than their hearing counterparts. Laverne McQuiller Williams started the study back in 2000. "I think it's very important to highlight, especially these findings in males, because a lot of the research and previous literature simply ignores males as victims, especially victims of dating and relationship violence." McQuiller Williams don't know why Deaf men are reporting more relationship violence. It could be because of efforts to raise awareness about what actually qualifies as abuse, or it could be that women experience abuse more before college, skewing the results. But either way, the data shows that Deaf and hard of hearing people, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, are more often targets of abuse.