A recent Seattle Times article reports that a Seattle woman was recently charged with third-degree assault/domestic violence after she abused her boyfriend during a argument.

The unusual incident demonstrates that domestic violence knows no gender barriers and that both sexes are able and do in fact engage in violent behavior with a spouse or partner.

The 30-year-old woman was, according to King County Superior Court records, arrested on May 24 after police received a 911 call from her boyfriend in which he accused her of being abusive. Her 40-year-old boyfriend reported to police after the fact that they had an argument and he had threatened to leave. He reportedly ignored her apology, which led to her grabbing his testicles and squeezing "very hard"

The assault apparently caused the man "extreme pain" and caused damage to his groin area, for treatment of which he was taken to Northwest Hospital and Medical Center, where he required surgery. Although doctors noted that the wound appeared to have involved a knife, authorities said a knife was not involved.

The couple had apparently been together for five years, during which time police have been involved in other domestic violence incidents. Sources said police responded to those incidents in September, October and February, but no arrests were made during those times.

Domestic violence against men is an often overlooked aspect of relationship violence. Oftentimes men choose not to report abuse because of the stigma attached to such a situation. Both men and women, though, are capable of violence and abuse against their partners.

Source: The Seattle Times, "Woman charged with below-the-belt assault," Jennifer Sullivan, 15 June 2011.