Lesbian abuse, also known as intimate partner violence (IPV) in lesbian relationships, refers to any form of physical, emotional, verbal, or psychological abuse that occurs within a romantic relationship between two women. It's essential to acknowledge that abuse can happen in any relationship, regardless of sexual orientation.

Lesbian individuals experiencing abuse may face unique barriers to seeking help, such as:

frame obsession and manipulation as the primary drivers of the narrative. While these make for gripping thrillers, they reinforce a narrow cultural script: that lesbian love is inherently destructive The Erasure of Victimhood

: Historically, LGBTQ+ characters were relegated to "tragic" ends, including death or social exclusion, which often served as a punishment for their identity rather than a nuanced look at their struggles.

Media representation of lesbian intimate partner violence (IPV) is characterized by a "triple invisibility"—a lack of research, a lack of mainstream news coverage, and a reliance on narrow, often sensationalized tropes in entertainment. While media portrayal of violence against women in general has increased since the 1970s, lesbian IPV is frequently sidelined or framed through heteronormative lenses that fail to capture its unique dynamics. Media Representation of Lesbian IPV