Assaultive men, however, manipulate, intimidate and bully their partners, and do not negotiate responsibly. Mediation, therefore, is an inappropriate service to recommend. I0 Young women often form relationships with young men from amongst their friends, so they find it difficult to break away from their abusive partner. Their boyfriend has easy access to them at school, work and social activities. Quitting school, moving away or seeking refuge from a women's shelter are seldom viable options.
Legal solutions are just as difficult.
Courts that might charge and jail an adult male for violence often deal with a teenaged man lightly or not at all. Solutions for young women must acknowledge their situation and experiences. Support services may be homophobic, or minimize lesbian battering in the belief that a woman cannot batter another woman. A battered lesbian may be afraid to reveal her sexual orientation to the justice system or a helping service because she fears losing her job or custody of her children. Abuse takes similar forms to wife abuse with additional concerns related to the older person's stage of the life cycle.