The Gift of Equality: Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Unions and Domestic Violence Against the Elderly

The Gift of Equality: Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Unions and Domestic Violence Against the Elderly | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 18 October 2025 V1 Latest version Share on The Gift of Equality: Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Unions and Domestic Violence Against the Elderly Authors : Weidong Tian , Zhiyong Dai , Dongli Cao 0009-0003-1505-970X , and Xiting Zhuang 0009-0005-4852-6903 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176082490.04814494/v1 158 views 70 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract This paper examines the impact of the legal recognition of same-sex unions (LRSSU) on elder domestic violence in Taiwan. We exploit the staggered implementation of same-sex partnership registration and marriage legalization across counties (cities) in Taiwan between 2015 and 2019 as a quasi-natural experiment. Using balanced panel data for 22 counties (cities) from 2011 to 2023, we estimate multi-period difference-in-differences models. The empirical results show that, following the policy implementation, elder abuse by lineal relatives declined significantly by 22.9 percent, and the overall incidence of domestic violence against the elderly decreased by 9.1 percent. Analysis of underlying mechanisms suggests that LRSSU fosters public understanding and tolerance toward sexual minorities. This not only reduces instances in which LGBTQ+ individuals, under excessive stress, lash out against their elderly relatives, but also mitigates intergenerational conflicts within heterosexual households driven by divergent gender norms. Heterogeneity analysis further indicates that Taiwan’s entrenched Confucian patriarchal culture generates a backlash effect in certain counties, attenuating the policy impact. The findings highlight that marriage equality generates spillover effects beyond marriage markets, improving intergenerational relations and reducing elder abuse. Supplementary Material File (9.19the gift of equality-sociology.docx) Download 152.52 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 18 October 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords elder domestic violence intergenerational conflict legal recognition of same-sex unions lgbtq+ marriage equality Authors Affiliations Weidong Tian Southwestern University of Finance and Economics View all articles by this author Zhiyong Dai Southwestern University of Finance and Economics View all articles by this author Dongli Cao 0009-0003-1505-970X Ludong University View all articles by this author Xiting Zhuang 0009-0005-4852-6903 [email protected] North Dakota State University Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 158 views 70 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Weidong Tian, Zhiyong Dai, Dongli Cao, et al. The Gift of Equality: Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Unions and Domestic Violence Against the Elderly. Authorea . 18 October 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176082490.04814494/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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