Women with disabilities may be 40 per cent more likely to be victims of partner violence than those without disabilities.

In a survey of more than 7,000 women across Canada, the risk for partner violence towards women was found to be higher among women with disabilities, and in fact these women were at particular risk for severe violence.

“These women not only face hardship because of their disabilities, but are also at risk of harm within their own households,” explains Dr. Douglas Brownridge of the department of family social sciences at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. “This may seem counter-intuitive, but rather than being treated with more care by their partners, women with disabilities may face more mistreatment than those without disabilities.”

Brownridge, also a researcher with the Arthur V. Mauro Centre for Peace and Justice at the University of Manitoba, says the reasons for the increased violence appear to be attributable to the views of abused disabled women’s partners.

He notes: “Male partners of women with disabilities were 2½ times more likely to behave in a dominating manner and 1½ times more likely to be unreasonably jealous towards their disabled partners.”

He adds: “Patriarchal dominance and sexually proprietary behaviours are strongly linked to increased odds of violence against women both with and without disabilities.”

The study was published in the September issue of the research journal Violence Against Women.

For more information, contact Dr. Douglas Brownridge at: 204-474-8050.