Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) consists of acts that threaten to harm or actually harm to a partner within an affective-sexual relationship, regardless of the configuration or duration of the relationship or whether or not there is cohabitation between the parties. In homosexual relationships, IPV is made invisible in several ways, even though it is recognized as a serious violation of human rights. The study aimed to understand the meanings of IPV for a group of men in same sex relationships (MSSR). Eight MSSR participated in the research, selected by snowball sampling, used due to the topic’s sensitivity, considering the stigmas involved in being MSSR. Data were constructed via semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Thematic Analysis. As a result, six categories were constructed: 1) The closet persons; 2) Homophobia; 3) Racism, power, and vulnerability to IPV; 4) Sexuality; 5) Infidelity; 6) HIV, which discuss the intersectionality of various forms of oppression in the production of IPV among MSSR. Thus, the IPV experienced by this group is influenced by several factors that involve the intersectionality between different social markers, such as stereotypes of masculinity in relation to hypersexualization and infidelity, homophobia as a direct factor of minority stress, the racism that hierarchizes bodies and makes the affection of Black men and the stigma of HIV invisible in the social imaginary.
Keywords:
Men Who Relate With Men; Intimate Partner Violence; Masculinities; Power Relationship; Minority Stress