MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Male Victims of Domestic Violence

Male Victims of Domestic Violence

Introduction

Abuse is experienced in many different ways and can include a range of physical, sexual, psychological or financial behaviour. Domestic violence is about power and control and is rarely a one-off incident. Violence usually takes place within an intimate relationship, such as a partner or a family member, and forms a pattern of controlling behaviour where the abuser tries to control and seek power over their victim. Although research shows that domestic violence affects mostly women, current statistics show that one in six men will be affected at some point in their lifetime (James 2007). The British Crime Survey revealed that 19% of domestic violence incidents were reported to be male victims, with just under half of these having a female abuser.

Discussion

Being abused by somebody you love and trust can be confusing and bewildering. The emotions you feel as a result are going to be similar whether you are male or female, however it can be harder for men to cope with the emotional impact of domestic abuse. A spokesperson from the Men's Advice Line says: "We often have men on the phone who say they can cope with the odd slap, but being constantly criticised and belittled is harder to deal with." (Dobash, Dobash, Archer 2004) We all know that women love a good natter, and while admitting to being abused is difficult for anybody, men often don't have the social networks in place to easily tell a friend or family member. When guys go down the pub it is not necessarily for a touchy-feely chat. Phone lines, like the Men's Advice Line, (MALE) will give you the opportunity to talk in confidence (Wilson, Daly 2002).

Domestic violence has emerged as one of the world's most pressing problems. The United Nations estimates that between 20% to 50% of all women worldwide have experienced physical violence at the hands of an intimate partner or family member. In the United States, more than one million cases of “intimate partner violence” are reported each year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. (Dobash, Dobash, 2004) argue that battering is the single most common source of serious injury to women, being responsible for more injuries than road accidents, muggings and rape combined. U.S. Surgeon General also noted that 4,000 women are beaten to death by their partners every year. One of the major platforms for action adopted at the World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995 was “the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.” (Ferrante et.al 2006) Efforts to prevent domestic violence and to facilitate its successful prosecution have followed research and advocacy on behalf of its victims. New laws, police procedures, medical and forensic efforts have encouraged prosecution, while refuges for battered women, education and therapy groups for men who are violent towards their partners have sought to transform the conditions of domestic violence.

In recent years, a serious debate has erupted among activists, partisan organizations and ...