Abuse by Special Populations: A Guide for Pregnant Survivors, LGBTQ+ & People with Disabilities

Abuse is a pervasive issue, but for certain populations, the challenges of recognizing and escaping it are heightened by unique risks, systemic barriers, and a lack of understanding from service providers. Abuse by special populations—including pregnant survivors, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities—is often rooted in a deeper context of social marginalization and a lack of access to culturally competent care. Recognizing these unique dynamics is the first step toward effective and compassionate support.

This guide explores the unique challenges faced by these groups and highlights how to find the specialized help they need.

1. Unique Risks and Challenges

While the core of abuse—a pattern of power and control—remains the same, its tactics and a survivor's vulnerabilities can be very specific to their identity.

• Pregnant Survivors: Abuse often begins or escalates during pregnancy, as the abuser seeks to establish control over the survivor's body and the unborn child. This can include:

  • Direct Violence: Targeted physical violence to the abdomen or reproductive organs.

  • Reproductive Coercion: Sabotaging birth control, forcing unwanted pregnancies, or pressuring a survivor to terminate a pregnancy against their will.

  • Control over Health: Forbidding prenatal care, withholding medication, or using the pregnancy as leverage to prevent a survivor from leaving.

• LGBTQ+ Relationships: Abuse in these relationships is compounded by homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia, which abusers can weaponize to isolate their partners. This can include:

  • Threats of "Outing": An abuser may threaten to reveal a survivor's sexual orientation or gender identity to family, employers, or the public, which can lead to job loss, rejection, or physical violence.

  • Internalized Homophobia: Abusers may exploit a survivor's internalized shame or guilt about their identity, telling them they deserve the abuse because of who they are.

  • "De-gendering" Abuse: Law enforcement and shelters may fail to recognize the abuse because it doesn't fit a cisgender, heterosexual "male-on-female" narrative, making it difficult for LGBTQ+ survivors to be believed.

• People with Disabilities: Abuse against people with disabilities is often intertwined with their reliance on caregivers or family members. These risks include:

  • Withholding Care: Denying medication, refusing to provide food, or taking away mobility aids, all as a means of control.

  • Financial Exploitation: Stealing disability checks or controlling all finances, leaving the survivor without a means of independence.

  • Isolation and Dependence: Abusers may tell the survivor that no one else will want to care for them or that they are worthless without the abuser's help.

2. Legal Protections and Barriers

While laws against domestic violence typically apply to everyone, these populations often face specific challenges in the legal system.

• Pregnant Survivors: Some states or provinces have laws that recognize violence against a pregnant person as a distinct and serious crime. However, a survivor may be reluctant to report due to fear of losing custody of their child or having Child Protective Services involved.

• LGBTQ+ Relationships: Legal systems are becoming more inclusive, but survivors may still encounter a lack of understanding from police and lawyers. The threat of "outing" can also make survivors hesitant to seek legal protections like restraining orders.

• People with Disabilities: The legal system is often difficult to navigate for people with disabilities. An abuser may use the legal system to their advantage, arguing that the survivor is not a credible witness due to their disability. Reporting can also be challenging if the abuser controls their communication methods.

3. Finding Providers Who Understand Intersectional Abuse

The most crucial step for a survivor is to find a provider who understands their specific context. These providers can offer a safe space and culturally competent care.

• Look for Specialization: Seek out organizations that explicitly state they serve LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, or pregnant survivors. Many providers now highlight an "intersectional" approach in their mission statements.

• Ask Direct Questions: When you call a provider, ask: "Do you have experience working with LGBTQ+ survivors?" or "Are your services accessible for people with disabilities?"

• Check for Language: Look for a provider who is knowledgeable about your specific identity and community. For example, a provider serving the LGBTQ+ community should use correct pronouns and understand the unique dynamics of same-sex relationships.

Abuse thrives in isolation. By understanding the unique challenges faced by these populations and connecting with specialized, intersectional providers, survivors can begin to find a path toward safety and healing.