Domestic Violence (DV) is described as a pattern of abusive behaviour by

one or both partners in an intimate relationship (examples marriage,

dating, family, friends, and co-habitation)1 DV rates continue to climb
within Australian households. One in three victims of DV is male. Domestic
Violence against Men is an intensifying problem in these situations. As a
result of minimal research and exploration related to the topic, Australian
communities are under-educated and unfamiliar with the issue. This is
because of the lack of resources and information related to DV against
men.
This independent research project aims to promote positive influences on
specific community attitudes towards the education of DV against men.
The researcher will also attempt to explore and draw conclusions
concerning inequities in relation to the lack of awareness, community
education and community support services in regards to DV against men.
The community and family studies stage 6 syllabuses (amended) for
preliminary and higher school certificate directly relates the research
hypothesis.
Links to Preliminary core 1: Resource Management content are the areas
of wellbeing; in particular physical, emotional and economic, specific
needs such as safety and security, access to support and communication.
DV affects both wellbeing and how well an individual is able to meet
specific needs in a variety of violence circumstances. Male DV victims
have minimal access to support services and people they can
communicate with about their abuse. For example specific needs such as
safety and security cannot be met and the victims sense of identity
becomes distorted as well as negative implications on the victims
physical and emotional wellbeing as a result of prolonged violence.
Links to Preliminary core 2: Individuals and Groups content are types of
groups including family and other specific groups (males), personal factors
1 Male Victims of Domestic Violence. Babette C. Drijber, Udo J. L. Reijnder, Manon Ceelen
(30 October 2012)

such as self-esteem, self-confidence, and belonging, education and

experience. Social factors such as relationships, gender expectations,
media as well as causes of conflict in relation to individual differences,
limited resources and multiple role expectation all directly link to the
researcher hypothesis.
Males are stereotypically the bread-winner of the family, the one who
goes to work in order to provide an income for his family. When these
gender expectations are not meet, violence in DV cases is the result. This
also negatively impacts on those personal factors.
Links to Preliminary core 3: Families and Communities content are
families, adversity, and influences on decision making, change and its
impacts, technology and formal and informal support. For male victims of
DV, one of the biggest decisions is to try and remove themselves for
violent situations and overcome adversity. Influences such as children
and young family members might encourage the male to say and protect
them from the abuser. Formal supports are limited for male DV victims,
and some men may feel they cannot face family members because of a
fear of judgement or misunderstanding. The victims access to specific
resources and support networks become limited or non-existent.
Links to HSC core 1: Research Methodology content are sampling (size,
group, methods), types and sources of data, reliability, validity and ethical
behaviour. Other direct links are research methods such as questionnaires,
interviews, case studies, observations and literature reviews, the research
process including planning, conducting and interpreting research data. For
this research project the researcher will use questionaries and interviews
of a randomly selected sample group to conduct research. From the
results, she will be able to observe and interpret findings and draw
conclusions about her hypothesis.
Links to HSC core 2: Groups in Context content are access to services,
factors affecting access to services, addressing the groups issues of
concern, advocacy, awareness and education. Male DV victims have little

access to support services because of the lack of community awareness

and education on the issue. Advocacy is needed to speak for those male
DV victims, so that in future they have a strong support network.
Links to HSC core 3: Parent and Caring content are the role of parents and
carers in satisfying specific needs, building positive relationships and
promoting wellbeing. These extremely important aspects of a childs life
cannot not be meet if he/she is brought up in a violent environment, due
to either family or domestic violence. The impacts of DV on a child could
unintentionally create a cycle of violence when growing up, committing
violent acts at young ages and in their own future families.
Links to HSC option 1: Social Impacts of Technology content are television,
internet and the media, household technology, responses to social
problems, education and gender. The Media puts so much emphasis on
the way domestic violence affects women that people build this
stereotype that men are violent and abusive. This distorts societys view
of the equality of gender in the community, and plays on ideas that
women are always the victim.
Men too are victims. Women too are perpetrators.