Abstract
A questionnaire study investigated the balance of power in lesbian relationships and factors that affect it. Seventy-seven lesbian women currently in a romantic/sexual relationship participated. Although lesbians strongly endorsed an egalitarian ideal of equal power in love relationships, nearly 40% reported an unequal balance of power in their relationship. As social exchange theory predicts, the partner who was relatively less dependent on the relationship and who had greater personal resources tended to have greater power. Compared to women in equal power relationships, women in unequal power relationships reported less satisfaction and anticipated more problems in their relationships. No evidence of butch-femme role playing was found. It is suggested that the determinants of the balance of power go beyond attitudes and reflect processes of social exchange that can occur regardless of ideology or sexual orientation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnhart, E. Friends and lovers in a lesbian counterculture community. In N. N. Glazer-Malbin (Ed.), Old family, new family. New York: Van Nostrand, 1975.
Bernard, J. The future of marriage. New York: Bantam Books, 1972.
Blau, P. M. Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley, 1964.
Blood, R. O., & Wolfe, D. M. Husbands and wives: The dynamics of family living. Glencoe, Ill.: Free Press, 1960.
Centers, R., Raven, B. H., & Rodrigues, A. Conjugal power structure: A reexamination. American Sociological Review, 1971, 36, 264–277.
Chafetz, J. S. Masculine/feminine or human: An overview of the sociology of sex roles. Itasca, Ill.: Peacock, 1974.
Cromwell, R. E., & Olson, D. H. (Eds.). Power in families. New York: Wiley, 1975.
Gillespie, D. Who has the power? The marital struggle. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1971, 33(3), 445–458.
Hill, C. T., Rubin, Z., & Peplau, L. A. Breakups before marriage: The end of 103 affairs. Journal of Social Issues, 1976, 32(1), 147–168.
Kelly, J. Sister love: An exploration of the need for homosexual experience. Family Coordinator, 1972, 21(4), 473–475.
Millett, K. Sexual politics. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1970.
Morin, S. F. Heterosexual bias in psychological research on lesbianism and male homosexuality. American Psychologist, 1977, 32, 329–337.
Olson, D. H., & Rabunsky, C. Validity of four measures of family power. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1972, 34, 224–234.
Peplau, L. A. The impact of fear of success, sex-role attitudes and opposite-sex relationships on women's intellectual performance. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Harvard University, 1973.
Peplau, L. A. Power in dating relationships. In J. Freeman (Ed.), Women: A feminist perspective (2nd ed.). Palo Alto: Mayfield, 1979.
Peplau, L. A., Cochran, S., Rook, K., & Padesky, C. Loving women: Attachment and autonomy in lesbian relationships. Journal of Social Issues, 1978, 34(3), 7–28.
Peplau, L. A., & Gordon, S. L. The intimate relationships of lesbians and gay men. In E. R. Allgeier & N. B. McCormick (Eds.). Changing boundaries: Gender roles and sexual behavior. Palo Alto: Mayfield, 1982.
Peplau, L. A., Rubin, Z., & Hill, C. T. The sexual balance of power. Psychology Today, November 1976, 142–151.
Poloma, M. A., & Garland, T. N. The married professional woman: A study in the tolerance of domestication. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1971, 33, 531–540.
Rollins, B. C., & Bahr, S. J. A theory of power relationships in marriage. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1976, 38, 619–629.
Rubin, Z. Liking and loving: An invitation to social psychology. New York: Holt, 1973.
Safilios-Rothschild, C. The study of family power structure: A review, 1960–1969. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1970, 32, 539–552.
Safilios-Rothschild, C. A macro- and micro-examination of family power and love: An exchange model. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 1976, 38, 355–362.
Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. The social psychology of groups. New York: Wiley, 1959.
Waller, W. The family: A dynamic interpretation. New York: Gordon, 1938.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The authors wish to thank Susan D. Cochran, Naomi McCormick, Karen S. Rook, and Richard R. Lau for their helpful comments on an earlier version of this article, and Christine Padesky for her assistance in data analysis.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Caldwell, M.A., Peplau, L.A. The balance of power in lesbian relationships. Sex Roles 10, 587–599 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287267
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00287267