The Victims Of Domestic Violence Feelings - Essay Example

Why It Is Difficult To Talk About Males Being Victims Of Domestic Violence Introduction Domestic violence is one of the challenges that is manifested in most societies. Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior inherent in a household setting where one partner abuses the other. Partnerships such as cohabitation or marriage are characterized by abusive tendencies that destabilize the relationship between the partners. Domestic violence is not only experienced in heterosexual relationships but also in same-sex engagements. Consequently, violence against the children is another manifestation of family violence. Women are distinguished as the only gender that experiences domestic violence more that the male counterparts. Men are often confronted with violent tendencies in their respective relationships. It is difficult to talk about males being victims of domestic violence they are not socialized to view themselves as victims. It is difficult to talk about men being victims of domestic violence because of three critical obstacles that condemn men to the periphery. The men are expected to dominate every aspect of society from family issues to role allocation in the society. As a consequence, men who are abused in their relationships struggle to reveal their issues because they are expected to deal with challenges as the dominant figures. Patriarchy, as well as gender issues, deny the men the leverage to voice the challenges they are confronted with in respective partnerships. Most societies are patriarchal in nature effectively elevating the social status of men. Ideally, patriarchal culture does not want men to be viewed as victims of domestic violence. The feminist cultures progressively and constantly defend the women against critical issues including domestic violence. The belief that women can cause violent activities is relegated and quashed because it is believed that they are the victims. The defense of the women of the society makes it difficult to speak about men being victims of domestic violence. The portrays women as non-perpetrators of family violence. Most resources are often directed to the perceived victims who are the women. The narrative of men being victims is never discussed, and neither are resources allocated to create awareness concerning the challenges facing men in various partnerships. The inconsistencies that are manifest in dealing with domestic violence makes it difficult to voice the violent propensities that males experience. The recognition of a problem commences if the society acknowledges a crisis and works towards resolving it appropriately. Violence against men in heterosexual or same-sex relationships is prevalent in several jurisdictions yet the stakeholders are not keen to improve on the situation. Men find it difficult to share their issues because they believe the society does not recognize domestic violence against them and minimizes its proliferation. The degree or measure of violence in a relationship cannot be underestimated or tolerated because of gender socialization. It is difficult to talk about males as victims of domestic violence because of stigmatization. Admittedly, men are expected to exemplify masculinity and other tenets that reveal their male dominance. The men who admit having been abused are condemned and deemed to be weak. The social edifice of the society dictates that the males are supposed to exhibit influence and authority in their undertakings. Women who are abused in partnerships are encouraged to report to law enforcement agencies yet the men are pressurized against reporting to the authorities. Reporting to the authorities concerning family violence goes against the expectations of the society. Social stigma can have far-reaching implications for the well-being of men. Such inclinations make it difficult for men expose the difficulties they face while in marriage or defined relationships. Domestic violence is majorly synonymous with the women and not men. It is imperative to underscore that the society marginalizes the men and does not objectively recognize physical abuses against the men (Cook 12). The view is built on the premise that men are perceived to be strong and wielding influential authority than the women. Ideally, the society argues that men have the power to control the circumstances around them including violent activities. Moreover, the society believes that women are the real victims and whenever they act it is based on self-defense. The stereotypical manifestations inherent in the society makes the discussion about men as victims of domestic violence sufficiently difficult. Men are not guaranteed a normal life after reporting or exposing their ordeal either to the authorities, family or friends. Even though it is difficult to talk about males as victims of domestic violence, the reality of physical assault against the men should not be underestimated. Gender symmetry is a theoretical framework that puts into perspective the role of women in propagating violence in partnerships (Hamel and Tonia, 23). The evidence presented by the theory demonstrates that men have a genuine concern when raising the issue of domestic violence against them. Consequently, men should be educated concerning family violence and avenues through which they can obtain assistance. The men should be presented with statistical evidence that indicate the number of males that suffer from abuse. The elimination of biases ensures that domestic violence is demystified. Through such initiatives, the males find it relatively easy to confront the challenges they experience while in the relationships. The society has to change its stance concerning domestic violence. There needs to be an acceptance that domestic violence is not gender specific but manifest in the two orientations. Conclusion The impact and consequences of domestic violence in the society cannot be overemphasized. Both men and women experience abuses in their respective partnerships yet it is difficult to talk about males as victims. Gender socialization defines the women as the real victims of abuse. Consequently, the society does not perceive men as weak effectively nullifying any assertions that they are victims. The fear of stigmatization makes it difficult to talk about abuses men face in partnerships. The society needs to recognize that domestic abuses are an occurrence that is not unique to a particular gender. Men, just like women are confronted with violent tendencies. It is difficult to talk about males as victims of domestic violence because men are not socialized to view themselves as the victims. Works Cited Cook, Philip W. Abused Men: The Hidden Side of Domestic Violence. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 2009. Print. Hamel, John, and Tonia L. Nicholls. Family Interventions in Domestic Violence: A Handbook of Gender-Inclusive Theory and Treatment. New York: Springer Pub, 2007. Read More