Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 5

Domestic violence against men is a growing problem.

As a result of
minimal research and exploration related to the topic, todays society is
uneducated and unfamiliar with the issue.
Domestic violence is when an individual uses intimidation, threats, force
and violence to manipulate or control a partner, former partner of family
member. Its differentiated by a disproportion of power where the
perpetrator uses cruel and violent behaviours and tactics to gain control
power over the victim causing fear. Once Violence begins, its frequency
grows and the longer the relationship goes on, the more severe the
escalation of abuse; both physically and physiologically. (Carrington &
Phillips 2003, Tually, Faulkner, Culter & Slater 2008).
Domestic Violence towards Men
When it comes to domestic violence, males have been under recognised,
ignored and marginalised. A majority of people dont even know male
victims exist. In particular, the lack of literature on this population group is
disturbing. Minimal studies have researched predictors of life threatening
IPV by women toward men, where the female partner uses frequently and
more severe violence1. Since information is scarce, communities are
unaware of the threat and importance of the issue. The publics
knowledge (at its bare minimal) is acquired through the media. The media
only portrays a proportion of the truth. Medias such as television
programs, magazines and fact sheets are biased, they make out to the
majority population, that men are the aggressors and women and
nurturing and caring2. Community education on the topic is non-existent,
domestic violence is an under investigated and growing problem in
society.

Characteristics of victims of abuse


1 Predicting Potentially Life-threatening Partner Violence by Women toward Men: A
preliminary analysis; Denise A. Hines, PhD Clack University & Emily M. Douglas, PhD
Bridgewater State University ( Violence and Victims, Volume 28, Number 5, 2013)

2 Research Lead Me to be more aware of domestic violence against men (article) (A.
Wilkins, University of East Anglia September 21: vol 26 no.3:2011)

Male victims of domestic violence often hide the abuse from others.
Majority of men in this situation are unable to recognise that they are
sustaining abuse by their female partner.

Males are most likely to experience depression and depressive states,


trauma symptoms, chronic anger, subjective distress, passive-aggressive
attitude, avoidance, antisocial personality traits, upset and worry and are
constantly feeling isolated or trapped. I can handle it, Its no big deal,
I can fix it and make her better, or I dont want to admit I cant handle
her3. Babette C. Drijber, Udo J. L. Reijnder and Manon Ceelen all make
the suggestion that male victims are less likely to seek help, as a result of
the limitation of resources and education in their region. They feel that
they arent a man if they seek help which is linked to the ideas of gender
stereotyping.

Characteristics of the Abuser.


In the case of DV against men, the female is the abuser. Researchers have
found that women are more inclined to use weapons or items to inflict
injury rather than their hands or feet4. Some research has found that
females who, in their childhood, have experienced childhood adversity,
displayed adolescent conduct problems and aggressive personality, more
commonly become an abuser5, but not all agree with this statement.
Female abusers have a tendency to make threats about withholding
money, taking their children away or using self-injury to make accusations
about the real victim. The most common characteristics of the female
abuser are verbal aggression, controlling behaviour, restricting access to
3 Partner Abuse, Volume 1, number 2, 2010 - Abused Men: The Hidden Side of Domestic
Violence, second edition. Phillip W. Cook. New York: Praeger, 2009, 232 pp

4 Predicting Potentially Life-threatening Partner Violence by Women toward Men: A


preliminary analysis; Denise A. Hines, PhD Clack University & Emily M. Douglas, PhD
Bridgewater State University ( Violence and Victims, Volume 28, Number 5, 2013)

5 Male Victims of Domestic Violence. Babette C. Drijber, Udo J. L. Reijnder, Manon Ceelen
(30 October 2012)

relatives and friends, accusations, forced sexual intercourse, suicide


threats and severe violence; both physical and psychological6.

Contributing factors and reasons for DV,


-

Childhood experiences
The carry-on effects of childhood experiences of bullying, assault, abuse
and violence have lead researchers to a similar conclusion. Hines and
Douglas (Predicting Potentially Life Threatening Partner Violence by
Women toward Men: The Preliminary Study) have discovered that, through
their research that women, in certain circumstances will resort back to
their ways of violence if they are in a similar situation from their past. As
well, Phillip W. Cook (Partner Abuse, Volume 1, Number 2, 2009) that
offspring of the abusive couple will be brought up in this environment and
therefore the cycle of DV against men is continued.

Drugs/alcohol
Females who use violence, in some cases are under the influence of either
or both, illicit drugs and alcohol. The effect of these substances on the
female brain can make the women feel that they can be violent. Because
of the effects to the brain, the outcome of the violence is more severe as
the women are unable to make decisions, to stop or be less violent.
(Morgan, 08/02/2003)

Financial issues
Money and bills create massive amounts of stress within a family.
Stereotypically, the male of the household is the bread-winner. They are
6 Partner Abuse, Volume 1, number 2, 2010 - Abused Men: The Hidden Side of Domestic
Violence, second edition. Phillip W. Cook. New York: Praeger, 2009, 232 pp

relied on to provide a sustainable income, to be able to pay bills and


purchase basic necessities. When the man is unable to do this, women
start to get stressed, where they could potentially lash out violently,
toward the male partner. As debts climb, the abuse escalates to a severe
level, injury is sustained and the male is then cannot attend work because
of fears that someone might ask what happened? (Christian, 2006)
Gender differences.
The men discuss how they were raised to not hit women, so hitting her
back would not be an option7. Moral of males is that they cant use
violence against women, not even in self-defence. Whereas women are
able to use violence as self-defence, there is no moral value that women
shouldnt use violence against men.
Restraining orders are harder for men to get than for women, even under
the same circumstances; and the men feel a strong sense of responsibility
and protectiveness toward their children and their abusive wives. A
tendency to discount harm attributed to violence carried out by women
(SHARPE, 2010). All articles analysed in this review have the same
opinion, that there is a lack of understanding towards Male domestic
violence victims. Males and female are not treated as equals.
Documentation by researchers states the predictors of life threatening
violence by men towards women. Inadequate and little research has
evaluated predictors of life threatening violence towards men via women.
Only a handful of studies such as Denise A. Hines, PhD and Emily M.
Douglas, PhD analysis Predicting potentially life threatening partner
violence by women towards men, have had a focus on the dangerous and
more severe forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) towards men by
female partners. The majority of this restricted literature discusses
themes such as lack of research, characteristics of victims of abuse,
characteristics of the abuser, contributing factors to domestic violence

7 Partner Abuse, Volume 1, number 2, 2010 - Abused Men: The Hidden Side of Domestic
Violence, second edition. Phillip W. Cook. New York: Praeger, 2009, 232 pp

(DV), gender differences, recognition and strategies with coping or


leaving.
Through the analysis and identification of similarities and differences of a
variety of related Materials, this reviews results conclude that the lack of
community education about domestic violence against men needs to be
addressed. In depth research about the nature of DV against men needs
to be conducted, information should be available for all (both male and
female) so that we can work collaboratively to minimise and eliminate IPV.
The main focus or findings of this review of literature is that community
education needed major works, to make sure that support services and
knowledge is increased.

Вам также может понравиться