Questions of child custody may arise for a battered lesbian if she admits that she is a lesbian. Abuse in the mother's relationship often exacerbates custody issues. The reasons why women are violent are different from the reasons of men. Batterers attempt to assert control over another person. Such behavior is often learned and is reinforced by the violence prevalent in our culture.
Men are more violent and cause more harm.
Battered women who seek help report violence and threats of violence that are just as severe and life-threatening as do other battered women. Never discount or minimize a woman's fear of the violence in her relationship just because she is a lesbian and her partner is another woman.