Domestic Violence towards Men
Male domestic violence is a topic that is seldom talked about and often avoided. On a statistical basis, it is believed that roughly 33% [1] of all domestic abuse victims are male.
This is of course an estimate, as the true numbers are difficult to work out due to the large amount of instances that go unreported.
With an estimated 1 in 6 men [2] experiencing domestic violence at some point in their lifetimes, it is important to consider why many of these instances go unreported, which could be due to a lot of the myths surrounding male domestic violence.
4 Myths surrounding male domestic abuse
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Men cannot be victims of domestic violence; they are only ever the perpetrators.
Domestic violence is an act that disregards both age and gender. When people think about a ‘typical domestic abuse victim’ they may be quick to think of a young woman in her 20’s or 30’s.
This is largely inaccurate and in 2019 over 280,000 victims of domestic violence were between the ages of 60 and 74 [3], with those victims over 74 unaccounted for in official statistics.
On top of this, in 2018 to 2019, for every 3 victims of domestic abuse, 2 were female and 1 was male [4].
The official statistics are widely known not to portray a complete picture of the abuse suffered from UK citizens. But considering roughly 5.5% [5] of the population are believed to have been affected in the year 2019 to 2020, anyone can be a victim no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, or sexuality.
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You will not be believed.
One of the main theories behind the lack of reporting of male domestic violence is that a male is less likely to be believed than a female.
At Ringrose Law, we take every case and allegation seriously and take pride in the consideration we offer to each of our existing and prospective clients, no matter who they are.
Given the statistics already mentioned and the experience of our team, you can feel confident that you will be supported.
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You need to be a man and just take it on the chin.
It is no secret that suicide is a big problem for men, as men are less likely to seek help when they are suffering with their mental health, due to the stigma surrounding masculinity.
The same can be said for male victims of domestic violence and in the year 2017 to 2018, nearly half of male victims failed to tell anyone that they were a victim.
Domestic violence can take many forms and is not necessarily always physical, and to suffer from domestic abuse is not a weakness and does not portray you as less of a man. Stating again that 1 in 6 men are believed to experience domestic violence during their lifetime, it is more common than most men think, and the first step towards addressing abuse is acknowledging that it is okay to seek help.
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There isn’t any support for male victims of domestic violence.
Across the UK there are various charities, such as the Mankind initiative, that are centred around supporting male victims of domestic violence.
Whilst traditionally the support offered to men has been limited, this is rapidly becoming a statement of the past as the issue is getting more and more attention.
In terms of legal help, our team can apply to the Court on your behalf for an injunction against your partner. This is an Order which is used to keep you safe, and if necessary, we can provide immediate protection for your children.
The two types of injunctions we can apply for are a non-molestation Order and an occupation Order.
We can help
For help, support and advice contact the Ringrose Law Domestic Abuse Team. Call 01522 561020 or email
[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwalesoverview/november2020
[2]https://www.mankind.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/35-Key-Facts-Male-Victims-March-2018.pdf
[3]https://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-press/articles/2020/04/280000-people-aged-60-to-74-experienced-domestic-abuse/
[4]https://www.mankind.org.uk/statistics/statistics-on-male-victims-of-domestic-abuse/
[5]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/domesticabuseinenglandandwalesoverview/november2020#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Crime%20Survey,last%20year%20(Figure%201).&text=The%20remaining%2059%25%20(758%2C941),as%20domestic%20abuse%2Drelated%20crime