Domestic Violence Against Men
Though the issue of domestic violence has long been connected to the fairer sex, women and heterosexual relationships are not the only scenarios for possible episodes of domestic violence. Though less commonly known, domestic violence against men is very much a reality. Perhaps out of shame or embarrassment, men have been known to withhold information from the authorities, making the number of cases reported less than the actual incidents themselves. So, how can someone allegedly stronger and braver be the object of abuse by the fairer sex?
Domestic violence often takes place within the privacy of a close personal relationship, most likely that of a couple. Domestic violence – against both men and women – can take the shape of emotional, sexual or physical abuse and makes no difference among sexual orientation. Domestic violence is hard to recognize in men. What once seemed a cute asset of a person’s character can eventually turn bad. Becoming obsessed as to where you are, what you are doing and who you are doing it with all can start to seem a bit too obsessive. At first, these incidents might seem isolated, making them more difficult to identify as a pattern. As with any couple, partners can often apologize and promise to stop a given behavior.
However, violent patterns become more and more recurrent, until the abused person finds himself trapped in a situation no true way out seems possible. While you expect love and care from this person, you also find yourself unable to leave her side regardless of the way she treats you. What would people think? No one is ever going to believe the “good old wifey” abuses you. We all know we ourselves would be reluctant to believe a buddy’s wife beats him or harasses him with psycho-play.
Domestic abuse against men is perhaps even more intricate than that against women in the sense that men are viewed within society as representatives of strength and power. Consequently, women are perceived as the more delicate and helpless creature – incapable and unable of harming her male counterpart. So false.
Signs of domestic violence – both psychological and physical – may include, among others, name-calling, insults or putting you down, preventing you from going places (especially those at where you share with others) and meeting new people, old friends and family, tries to control you in any way (how you spend your money, where you go, what you wear). Physical abuse can go anywhere from actual threats with objects or weapons, hitting, kicking, shoving, slapping, chocking or hurting you in any way (your children, pets and other beloved too), assaulting you, forcing you to have sex against your will, and blaming you for such behavior. Believe it or not, abusive people tend to blame their counterpart for such episodes and even tell their partners they probably deserved it as well.
Sadly, this type of abusive behavior is likely to leave you more prone to drinking and abusing drugs, falling into depression, engage in unprotected sex and other reckless actions. While seeking help may be the right path to take, keep into consideration you are likely to hit a wall in terms of resources and material to help men. People who might take care of such a situation could lack initiative to inquire about how your injuries took place and others might minimize the significance of the abuse because you are a man after all. Yet help is available; get in touch with authorities and specialists who can give your self- esteem a generic Viagra for the soul and take your life back.
