To show that negative images of lesbians in popular culture make it difficult for lesbians to publicly acknowledge their identity, especially when experiencing abuse in intimate relationships. Analyses of the dynamics of abuse based on heterosexual couples should not be applied to lesbians. Responses to open-ended survey questions are used to illustrate how homophobia and heterosexism influence lesbians' experience of abuse.
Some lesbians report being abused in one relationship, but becoming the abuser in another.
The one year project was aimed at training and education about abuse in lesbian relationships.