Male Victims of Domestic Violence Often Overlooked

San Jose Domestic Violence Lawyer And Santa Clara Spousal Abuse Attorney

For years, many assumed that only women could be victims of domestic violence or spousal abuse. Fortunately, this myth has been losing credibility as more and more male victims of domestic violence speak out about the abuse they suffered. Research shows that about one in four women are victims of domestic violence. Men are only slightly less likely to be abused by an intimate partner with one out of every three men having experienced some sort of domestic violence.

What Domestic Violence Against Men Looks Like

The underlying element to any abusive relationship is control. An abuser uses threats, intimidation, manipulation, and violence to gain control and power over his or her victim. Domestic violence against men can take the form of physical, psychological, or sexual abuse. Physical abuse can take the form of hitting, punching, slapping, kicking, or using a weapon against the victim among other things. A partner using psychological abuse to control their partner may gaslight their victim, use insults and putdowns to destroy their victim’s confidence, purposely humiliate the victim, isolating the victim from friends and family, withholding money or other resources from their victim, stalk him or her, and otherwise control what the victim can and cannot do.

Sexual abuse, like physical and psychological abuse, can also happen to men. Though some incorrectly believe that men cannot be sexual assaulted, this is completely false. Even former NFL player Terry Crews has reported being sexually assaulted. Gay men are almost twice as likely to suffer from sexual violence than heterosexual men are.

Why Male Victims Stay Silent

Although research shows that many men are victims of domestic violence, some experts believe that the actual number of male victims is much higher than assumed. This is because men are much less likely to report abuse by their partner than women are. There several reasons this might be the case. Firstly, many men fear that they will not be believed if they go to authorities or even tell friends or family about the abuse. Others fear that they will appear weak if they admit to having been abused. Some closeted homosexual men end up staying in abusive relationships because they worry that reporting the abuse or leaving the relationship will publically “out” them as a gay person.

If you are facing domestic violence charges, we can help. Our San Jose criminal defense attorney has the experience and skill necessary to aggressively defend clients accused of domestic violence. Call (408) 277­-0377 to schedule an appointment with Wesley J. Schroeder, Attorney at Law, today.

Sources:

https://ncadv.org/statistics

https://www.npr.org/2017/12/10/569682236/terry-crews-on-his-sexual-assault-lawsuit-this-is-about-accountability