Domestic violence primarily affects women but statistics show that numerous men in the United States also experience these violent situations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has documented that sexual abuse and physical confrontations and stalking of intimate partners affected 10% of males throughout their life history.
According to NISVS data men face workplace harassment as well as physical abuse and intimate partner rape at rates exceeding twenty-eight percent (28.5%).
Male abuse victims experience multiple barriers when they try to obtain help despite the disturbingly high rate of victimization.
Barriers to Seeking Help
Multiple barriers exist which stop male victims from looking for support services.
A stigma from society persists about men who need help because traditional norms portray them as emotionally independent so male victims find it harder to see themselves as victims of abuse. The prevailing societal norms place pressure on men to remain strong which results in emotions of shame together with embarrassment.
Men often fear their reports about abuse experiences will receive skepticism from others which makes them postpone seeking assistance.
A lack of specialized men-focused domestic violence support exists since the majority of domestic violence resources prioritize female victim services.
When male victims face criminal misidentification in cases of mutual violence the fear keeps them from taking legal steps for help.
Recent Initiatives and Support
Several geographic areas understand these difficulties so they have started developing support systems specifically for male victims. Greater Manchester established a detailed program to confront male and boy victims of gender-based violence through appointing domestic violence experts who support these victims.
The ManKind Initiative runs a confidential helpline together with specialized resources which specifically support domestic abuse victims who are male.
The Domestic Abuse Commissioner secures all victims by safeguarding their protection while enhancing their support access whether male or female.
Conclusion
Men make up a notable percentage of victims in U.S. domestic abuse incidents even though social acceptance and institutional obstacles block many of them from receiving needed assistance. The path to success in addressing such obstacles demands unity between communities to remove victim shaming of men and create comprehensive service programs and a space where everyone feels confident enough to obtain support.