Dos Hombres Heridos: Representaciones Sociales sobre la Violencia del Compañero Íntimo en Hombres Homosexuales Peruanos

The purpose of this study is to explore social representations of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Peruvian homosexual men. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted using eight semi-structured interviews and an abductive thematic analysis. Three themes were explored: the dynamics of same-sex relationships, notions of intimate partner violence (coercion, humiliation, and sexual abuse), and the process of seeking help. The research findings indicate that there is a vulnerability to violence that arises in this population from the individual experience of being a gay man in a heteronormative and patriarchal society. Furthermore, it was found that violence was not concretely represented in the interviewees’ imagination until they became victims of it. This manifestation, which allows for the recognition of homosexual men, is typically explicit in nature, since, based on their social representations, subtle forms of violence, such as coercion and humiliation, are not specifically identified as IPV. Furthermore, it highlights that, when faced with the need to seek help, the avenues for assistance are limited and can even be revictimizing for this population, leading to the concealment of their experiences. In conclusion, IPV among homosexual men is a real but unrecognized and even legitimized issue in the country, one that faces multiple social and institutional barriers that require to be addressed urgently.