Domestic Violence in Men - Essay Example

Why is culture and gender important? Apply your understanding to one of the following areas: Domestic Violence in men Course Date Introduction Globally, aspects of gender and culture play a significant role in describing as well as aiding to evaluate varied events that characterize any given society. Hence, help to relay required information by availing the necessary basis, which experts in diverse fields can adequately utilize to substantiate their claims. This is quite evident with domestic violence whereby contrary to the past when the weaker sex to be the main victims, presently studies so far conducted have shown augmenting statistics of men being victimized. According to Newman and Willis (2010, p. 3) study, domestic violence is an unkind conduct exhibited by close or intimate partner in a given household intended to maintain complete control over the victimized. To ensure adequate and complete control over the victim, the instigator of violence normally his or her conduct bears certain pattern whereby one’s abusive actions worsening by the day (Groves & Terry, 2013). They range from verbal abuse to the use of physical beating or hurting with the intention of ensuring the victim irrespective of his or her resistance complies with the instigator’s demands (Newman & Willis, 2010). Domestic violence is a wide topic denoting cruelty or aggression that occurs in a domestic/household environment among people who owe each other a duty of care but on contrary animosity takes over. Therefore, this study seeks to address domestic violence in men, which based on numerous cultures globally seemed an unthinkable aggression before that could ever happen to the male gender (Newman & Willis, 2010). This is because since immemorial perpetrators numerous perpetrators having been men who could attack women and children for they lacked adequate prowess that could much theirs. Current situation Based on current studies that have revealed the extent of domestic violence even including both genders, numerous scholars have concluded it is not a gender issue. Probably, this is because of the liberation women currently are enjoying both economically and holding certain positions, which it was not the case before. Hence, they are “equal” to their male counterparts though this argument many have opposed it especially by certain female feminists contending present males some have become irresponsible (Nayback-Beebe & Yoder, 2012). For instance the drunkards who due to their inability to cater for their families especially in developing states end up finding solace in abusing drugs. Mainly, based on numerous studies that have tried to establish why in certain circumstances males end up being victims of domestic violence, the core basis was that they failed to conform to being macho man. Hence, this category end up taking their lives in secret because many of them cannot publicly stand out and contend their intimate female partners are abusing them. This is due to stigma, which they normally undergo but while in the public pretend, because they prefer suffering silently than endure shame (Nayback-Beebe & Yoder, 2012). Some people while expounding why presently the rate of domestic violence among men is increasing contend of a thin and blurred line that separates roles of the two sexes (Hoyle, 2013). This is not only in the working places but also in homes where women feel due to their contribution that they make in helping the man to provide for their families ought also to participate in undertaking other chores as well. According to Hoyle (2013), this mode of violence despite to date being one of the Britain’s taboo, it is on the increase whereby on annual basis studies report about 25% in terms of cases. The cases included in this increase embrace those of men seeking online intervention due to their female spouses’ abuse after having seen the situations they are in are uncontrollable. For instance, Hoyle (2013) in substantiating her claims she gives an illustration of Miller who after college married Mitchell but their union turned to out to a hell of abuse stabbed with a knife. This was contrary to what he perceived Mitchell could result to after seeing her as being too naive and lovable (Hoyle, 2013). According to Campbell (2013), approximately 40% of all domestic violence cases in UK represent those experienced by males though the topic in most cases is unheard (Great Britain, 2008). He contends the possible cause of this increase is due to the treatment males receive once they take a bold step to report their woes. Police in most cases do not trust men, hence in numerous circumstances end up ignoring them (Campbell, 2013). Based on this report, men in front of police and agencies that deal with violence normally view male victims as “second-class”, end up being invisible to authorities that ought to handle their cases (Hague, Harvey & Willis, 2012). In addition, the mode of reporting by media bears a significant extent of biasness whereby editors and those relaying male cases tend to overlook or even altogether ignoring, which ought not to be the case. Findings The common aspect currently fuelling domestic violence against men is doubt or suspicion, which those supposed to help male victims exhibit when men come out contending they have been abused (Finley, 2013, p. 163). Consequently, this leaves the victimized questioning themselves whether what they have done is inappropriate and instead they could have endured as men. Since, those receiving the information from the victim’s view tend to imply he ought to have acted as a man by managing the situation. This is extremely devastating especially when the one reporting is a husband whereby most of them tend to experience both emotional as well as psychological abuse (Finley, 2013). Since, they cannot bear the thought of his peers knowing he is a coward, impotent or viewed negatively as having failed to control his family (Finley, 2013, p. 163). This is a long held perception by all genders in regards to domestic violence in men whereby numerous and diverse cultures globally including the Western patriarchal ones deem abusing a man is extremely hard (Barber, 2008). Consequently, many end up not receiving adequate and necessary attention from the respective healthcare professionals. According to Barber (2008, p. 38), fear of how respective authorities will perceive male victims is one of the key reason why many prefer not to come out and tell their woes. This is because numerous authorities through their social workers tend not to take male victims serious due to cultural believes, which they hold onto. Consequently, this prompts the victims end up shunning embarrassed and seen as inferior whereas in real sense they are hurting to the extent of some killed. In addition, there is also fear of police of those concerning with arbitrating these cases on behalf of men failing to do anything (Drijber, Reijnders & Ceelen, 2013, p. 175). Therefore, they see there is no need to report but instead manage their predicaments silently, which includes some leaving their homes. These include even male children ending up to be in streets where in their quest to deal with frustration find solace in drugs. Probably, this is due to fear factor whereby in women is based on studies so far conducted is approximately three times compared to that of men (Davis, 2008, p. 94). Hence, prompting numerous men especially at their youthful years fail to report cases of violence because is against culture and what society generally thinks or perceives them. Due to culture and traditions that characterizes global societies to date in regards to male’s gender; numerous states through their respective authorities have unconsciously continued to uphold the “feminization of social welfare” (Hall, 2012). Due to this, many male find it hard in reporting what they have experienced because numerous services revolve around helping women. These include gender related institutions, which are very vocal whereby men visiting them feel embarrassed due to the culture that is already engraved in them to in believing women ought to receive the best. This is despite medical and sociological literatures contending males being equally being victims of violence by women as their female counterparts by their spouses or close people (Hall, 2012). Therefore, institutions to address adequately cases of violence and assure victims the necessary aid, authorities ought to sensitize their respective professionals in handling victims as necessitated. This is with from a view each person irrespective of his or her gender can be a victim of domestic violence. Despite men blaming institutions regarding their woes in regards to domestic violence, they carry the big blame. Since, before settling with their respective partners normally due to love overlook certain signs that confirm their wives or girlfriends are violent (Sfetcu, 2014). For instance, it is a common scenario when dating a lady ends up slapping the man but due to the norms instilled in a man since childhood ends up ignoring these signs (Hidden Hurt, 2015). These norms dictate that a man ought to be a gentle when dealing with a woman for she is weak. However, this worsens and turns out to be violence especially when in marriage and one cannot backtrack. Hence, end up confused to wage a similar retaliation or quit the union whereby before long one may lose his life or maimed severely (Hidden Hurt, 2015). Conclusion The influence of culture and gender in regards to domestic violence in any given society is undeniable more so in UK, which represents a patriarchal society of developing regions globally (Great Britain, 2008). However, the way states through their respective authorities handle male victims of domestic violence is quite strange, hence worsening their states instead of helping them to recuperate. For instance, police as well as many health personnel show a heightened state of suspicion when a male reports that his spouse has abused him. This is because it is not common and even acceptable by the society for a man who ought to be strong end up claiming has been victimized (Cook, 2009). Consequently, prompting many shun reporting any such incidents and prefer to suffer silently due to the fear nothing the police. In addition, there is also the fear of embarrassment as the society expects men to be gentle when dealing with women whereby in certain circumstances are confused whether to retaliate or not. Based on varied scholarly literature that I have reviewed, I have unveiled despite the current state of modernization there are certain cultures that will not fade away with time (Ross, 2010). This is because of how global societies irrespective of their regions for long have perceived and held onto in regards to male gender. According to numerous societies, men irrespective of what befalls them, they ought to exhibit their macho trait coupled with being gentle (Cook, 2009). References Barber, C. F. 2008, Domestic violence against men, Nursing Standard, 22, 51, pp. 35-39. Campbell, D. 2010. More than 40% of domestic violence victims are male, report reveals. The Guardian, [Online] 5Th September. Available at: [Accessed 30Th March 2015]. Cook, P. W. (2009). Abused men: the hidden side of domestic violence. Westport, Conn, Praeger. Davis, R. L. 2008. Domestic Violence: Intervention, Prevention, Policies, and Solutions. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press. Finley, L. L. (2013). Encyclopedia of domestic violence and abuse. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. Great Britain. (2008). Domestic violence, forced marriage and "honour"-based violence: sixth report of session 2007-08. London, TSO. Groves, N. & Terry, T. 2013. Domestic Violence and Criminal Justice. London: Routledge. Hague, G., Harvey, A., & Willis, K. (2012). Understanding adult survivors of domestic violence in childhood: still forgotten, still hurting. London, Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Hall, R. E. 2012, The Feminization of Social Welfare: Implications of Cultural Tradition vis-à-vis Male Victims of Domestic Violence, Journal Of Sociology & Social Welfare, 39, 3, pp. 7-27. Hidden Hurt, 2015. Male Victims of Domestic Violence: Men can be victims too! [Online] Available at: < http://www.hiddenhurt.co.uk/male_victims_of_domestic_violence.html > [Accessed 30Th March 2015]. Hoyle, A. 2013. Why are so many MEN becoming victims of domestic violence? Its one of Britains last remaining taboos, but abuse against men in the home is on the rise. Mail Online, [online] 4Th December. Available at: [Accessed 30Th March 2015]. Nayback-Beebe, A, & Yoder, L 2012, The Lived Experiences of a Male Survivor of Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Case Study, MEDSURG Nursing, 21, 2, pp. 89-96. Newman, W. & Willis, C. N. 2010. Domestic Violence: Causes and Cures and Anger Management. Willis Newman. 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