The figures for male abuse?show that?two?out of five domestic violence victims?in the UK?are men. Data from UK Home Office statistical bulletins and the British Crime Survey show that men made up about 40 percent of domestic violence victims each year between 2004-05 and 2008-09, the last year for which figures are available. These are figures that are likely to be widespread and similar in most western countries. Contrary to what we are always led to believe, similar or slightly larger numbers of men are subjected to severe force in any incident with their partner, according to the same documents from the above sources.
As an example of the difference in care levels, there are 7,500 places for abused women in the UK, while just 60 for men — in the entire UK. While both are clearly inadequate, the places for men are almost non-existent.
This should not be a surprise. The problem is that domestic violence against men is portrayed by the media as amusing. If a man on a TV programme hits a woman, this is portrayed as domestic violence and is unacceptable whatever the circumstances, rightly so. If a woman hits a man, it is usually portrayed as him having ‘deserved it’. If equality is to mean anything, then the same rules must apply to both. This is true both of the media and society as a whole. One is seen as a serious problem, the other as comic.
The prescription of domestic violence as a woman’s problem, and not a social problem that affects both sexes and their children, is now strongly entrenched in societal attitudes in most western democracies. Extending particularly to Government, local and state authorities and other public bodies, including police forces, social agencies, children’s charities, and even the judiciary.
This is from the National Centre for Domestic Violence [UK].??
- The police receive a 999/911 call every three minutes from a male victim
- 1 in 6 men will experience Domestic Violence in their life
- 9% of all reported violent crimes are Domestic Violence cases involving male victims
- Every third victim of Domestic Violence is a man
- Approximately 4 million men are affected every year by domestic violence
Practically the same percentage of men as women are victims of severe acts of Domestic Violence. The percentages have been in the past hard to find as men are far less likely to come forward after domestic abuse and will very rarely seek help. While this has changed to a degree, there is still much work to be done for more men to seek help.
This though is just a small part of the overall problem. What is a male’s role? What is expected of us? Who defines this? While in many cases for women, this is very clearly defined and even very flexible, for men, this is becoming something that is becoming more and more opaque and hard to define.
This is a quote from Karen at Owning-Your-Own-Shit, a woman advocate of equality for men.
?The disenfranchisement of men is also a product of sexism. Sexism means discrimination by sex. ?Of one sex discriminating against the other. One can discriminate *for* as well as against, right? It’s still discrimination.?
Watch this video produced by ManKind, it shows in an actual real street, how people and society really reacts to violence by men against women and by women against men.? This is how society views violence against men. It’s funny, it never happens, they deserve it. Watch the video.
Chairman of Mankind, Mark Brooks says why he chose to make the short video:
?We have been?concerned for many years that social attitudes in Britain had not changed when it came to?recognising the plight of male victims of domestic abuse in the same way society rightly does for?female victims. We tested this through the video and were saddened to see that in fact society?had not changed.?
Sources:
British Home Office & Crime Prevention Unit –
http://www.dewar4research.org/DOCS/dvg-v3.pdf
The Guardian UK –
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/sep/05/men-victims-domestic-violence
Parity [A charity promoting care for male abuse victims]? –
http://www.parity-uk.org/index.php
National Centre for Domestic Violence [USA] –
http://www.ncdv.org.uk/
National Coalition For Men (NCFM) –
http://ncfm.org/
American Bar And Judicial Reviews
Owning Your Own Shit –
http://owningyourshit.blogspot.ie/
