Men Are Also Victims Of Domestic Violence

When we think of domestic violence, we generally imagine that women are the ones being attacked by men. But that’s not always true. Some men in abusive relationships can also suffer the same fate. Female spouses can be both physically and psychologically abusive. In most cases, the abuse is verbal as opposed to physical, which can be detrimental to the relationship and potentially affect the children’s well-being.

Some statistics to consider

As shown in the following statistics, women aren’t the only victims of abusive behavior:

• Half of men and women in the United States have experienced psychological abuse
• Nearly 10% men have suffered physical and emotional abuse that impacts their routine
• Every minute, about 24 people become victims of physical violence
• Unwanted telephone calls and text messages is a common tactic of stalking 75% of male victims
• Nearly 53% of male victims are raped by an acquaintance or intimate partner

Domestic violence against men is not taken seriously

Domestic violence towards a man is also categorized as abuse. People tend to defend women but there are also women out there that abuse man. Some men victims of domestic violence have bruises and marks, and women may throw things at them. While women generally enjoy more legal protection, men can also hire a Westlake Village domestic violence attorney.

Types of abuse

Domestic violence against men generally involves actions that may not look abusive such as:

• Insulting language and name-calling
• Constant threats of humiliation by exposing shameful personal information
• Jealousy and possessiveness
• Interfering with social activities
• Pushing and slapping

Reporting the abusive behavior

Many cases of domestic abuse involving men go unreported. The main reason is the traditional gender roles. Men that report being attacked by a woman may be seen as weak. Statistics clearly show the men and women suffer domestic violence in equal numbers. Yet some men feel that they will be arrested if they report their spouses’ abusive behavior. So as long as men are seeing as the violent ones and women as victims, it is unlikely that more men will report these incidents.

What can you do?

If you are a victim of domestic violence, whether male or female, you need to take it seriously. Sometimes the abusive behavior can escalate into the more dangerous scenario. The first and most important step is self-restraint. In other words, don’t become the primary attacker or you will be arrested. Hire an experienced attorney in your area and get out of the situation as soon as you can.

Your case evaluation

Domestic violence laws in California protect both men and women. If you are a male victim of domestic violence, call us today and schedule your initial case assessment with Westlake Village domestic violence attorney Stephanie L. Mahdavi. She has 19 years of experience protecting the rights of victims of domestic abuse.