Are you a male victim of domestic violence?
On behalf of Johnson, Sclafani & Moriarty, Attorneys at Law posted in Domestic Violence on Friday, July 21, 2017.
Most victims of domestic violence are women, in part because men generally have the strength and size advantage in the relationship. However, studies show that about one-third of domestic violence victims may be male.
This could be even higher, because it can be shameful for men to admit that they are being physically abused by a wife or girlfriend. If they do report the abuse, police may be skeptical or believe that they were actually the perpetrators, and the woman was trying to defend herself.
Women can physically abuse men by kicking, throwing things, biting or attacking them in their sleep. Men are often afraid to fight back physically because they feel they could cause even more physical harm to their wife than she could to them.
Men in same-sex relationships can also be the victims of domestic violence. Olympic gold medal-winning diver Greg Louganis has talked opening about being in an abusive relationship with a partner. The abuse, he said, never got to the physical level, but was mentally damaging.
Gay victims of domestic abuse may be afraid to seek help from family members who don’t yet know of their sexuality. They may be told by their abusive spouse that making the abuse public will only hurt the cause of same-sex marriage.
Domestic violence by both men and women often involves verbal abuse, sometimes in front of friends, family (including their children) and colleagues to add further humiliation. They may find ways to control, isolate and threaten their partner. Too often, the victim’s beloved pet is threatened or harmed as part of the abuse.
The fear of losing one’s children is also a concern for many men if they leave an abusive spouse. They risk the chance of a court not believing that the mother of their children is physically and/or emotionally abusive.
Denial is a big part of why many men don’t leave. While this is an issue with women also, men who don’t believe that they can be abused by women may simply see their wives as difficult, emotional or temperamental.
If you have moved out of your home or if you and the woman are not married or living together, a Massachusetts family law attorney can help you seek a protective order. If you are ready to take steps towards a divorce, he or she can help you seek custody of your kids.
Source: Helpguide.org, “Help For Men Who Are Being Abused,” accessed July 21, 2017
