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By Danila Cambanco
Domestic violence is a problem that affects millions of people around the world. It is a phenomenon that does not distinguish between social class, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, level of education, or gender. It can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse.
The effects of domestic violence can be devastating, both for the victim and the children involved. Signs of domestic violence can vary depending on the individual relationship and situation, but some common signs can include physical injuries or bruises, unexplained cuts or wounds, among others.
Infographic by Danila Cambanco
But does domestic violence have a gender? No, domestic violence is not gender-based, and individuals of all genders can be victims of domestic violence, but historically, domestic violence has been more often associated with male perpetrators and female victims due to traditional gender norms and power dynamics in relationships.
Men have often been seen as the main aggressors in cases of physical violence, which has led to a greater focus on supporting female survivors of abuse.
Listen here to what student Djamilia Brown, 23, has to say:
Every day, society is impacted by news of women who have been murdered by their partners or ex-partners. In most of these cases, they have been suffering various types of violence for some time, but the situation only comes to the attention of others when the aggressions escalate to the point of tragedy.
According to Forbes, it is estimated that 736 million women, one in three, have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lives.
Victims of domestic violence often feel trapped and isolated, unable to ask for help or support. They may fear retaliation from the abuser or worry about the consequences of leaving the relationship. This can lead to a cycle of abuse that can be difficult to break.
For victims with children, the victim worries about the impact the separation will have on their children, including disrupting their stability, and financial security and exposing them to further harm from the abuser.
Charlotte Woodward The National Centre for Domestic Violence worker said: “Many victims believe the promises and excuses and focus on helping the abuser overcome their problems. The abuser can be very convincing, crying, threatening suicide, begging the victim not to leave, not to take the children – or tirelessly promising to change.”
“Emotional dependency makes them feel safer in the relationship than trying to live apart, when they may receive daily threats or harassment. Many people need specialized support to get out of the relationship safely and permanently.”
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Domestic violence against men is a serious problem that is often ignored or minimized in society. Men can be and are victims of domestic violence, but they can face unique challenges in seeking help and support due to social stereotypes and misconceptions about gender roles in society. Although statistics show that women are disproportionately affected by domestic violence, men can also be victims of intimate partner violence.
On the other hand, female perpetrators of domestic violence may use psychological or emotional manipulation tactics rather than physical violence, which can make it more difficult for male victims to recognize the signs of abuse and seek help.
Abubacar Embalo, 27-year-old, history teacher, said: “Women receive more support when they are victims of domestic violence than men. In a society where most cases of aggression are against women, for a man to admit that he has been the victim of physical or psychological violence is automatically seen as weak.
“Society kind of ridicules men, which is why it’s very difficult for a man to seek help, for fear of not being believed or the way he’ll be seen among his friends and family. There aren’t as many help mechanisms for men as there are for women.”
In fact, studies show that around one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Male victims of domestic violence may face obstacles to seeking help, such as the fear of not being believed, concerns about appearing weak or emasculated, and a lack of knowledge about available resources.
They may also face social stigma and discrimination when they disclose their experiences since there is a generalized belief that men should be able to protect themselves and that only women can be victims of domestic violence.
“Domestic violence has no gender, but society makes it seem like there is, for example, in the case of Johnny Depp, when the news came out society all believed Amber Heard, she manipulated everyone, created false evidence, and in the end the truth came out, but the damage was already done, because he lost many friends and his image was denigrated and there is no money that can reverse that,” said Embalo.
“Women have a great advantage when it comes to violence – until proven otherwise, men are always blamed, which shouldn’t be the case, even though the biggest cases of violence are against women,” he concluded.
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It is important that society recognizes and addresses domestic violence against men and provides support services that are inclusive and accessible to all victims, regardless of gender. By breaking down stereotypes and offering resources tailored to the unique needs of male survivors, we can create a more supportive and equitable environment for all individuals affected by domestic violence.
The graph from the Office for National Statistics shows cases of domestic violence in adults aged 16 to 74, by age and sex, in England and Wales in March 2020. According to the graph, women aged 16 to 19 are more likely to have been victims of domestic violence in the last year than all other age groups.
Graph from The Office for National Statistics
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