Stop Abuse on Men

 International Men's Day is celebrated on 19 November every year throughout the world. This is an opportunity to shed light on issues faced by men that typically lie in the shadows of society. One of these issues is Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) against men.
The popular image of IPV is based on the familiar gender stereotype of a male villain and a female victim. But that stereotype paints an incomplete picture, with new research indicating a high number of male victims of domestic abuse.

Research on Domestic Violence

A recent UK government survey indicated that 9% of males had experienced some form of partner abuse, which amounts to around 1.4 million men. This includes stalking, physical violence and sexual assault. Indeed, a seminal US study found that male IPV victims are often slapped, kicked, punched, grabbed or choked by their partners.

Interestingly, a growing body of international research indicates that men and women experience IPV in similar proportions. For example, a recent survey from Canada’s national statistical agency concluded that “equal proportions of men and women reported being victims of spousal violence during the preceding 5 years (4% respectively).”
The aforementioned surveys indicate that small proportions of men (less than 20% of victims) will tell the police or a health professional about their victimisation. This may be due to well-grounded fears that they will be scorned, ridiculed, or disbelieved by these authorities.

The Way Ahead

The momentum must be maintained to further prevent and address IPV against men. Three discrete actions could assist in this regard.

First, official service provision for male victims of IPV remains scant. Indeed, a recent government report noted that there were 627 shelters for abused women in Canada, but only 6% of these admitted men, with zero shelters solely for men. In the UK, it has been reported that only around 1% of refuge beds are reserved for men. This demands more provision for male victims, without detracting from current provision for female victims.

Second, there is a pressing need for education and training in these issues for key stakeholders including the police, health-care providers, and the judiciary. Such efforts should enlighten stakeholders about the realities of IPV against men, while challenging gendered stereotypes built on the false dichotomy of a male villain and a female victim.