THE MALE VICTIM
Although male Domestic Violence (MDV) affects millions of men and young boys each year, it is a largely underreported epidemic, with 1 in 9 males in the U.S alone, having faced some form of domestic violence in their lifetime.
This is especially true amongst homosexual and transgender communities, as the risk of harm increases due to the harsh adversity, that often fuels sexual discrimination, bias, and hate crimes, making it especially difficult for members within these groups to secure the financial resources necessary to diffuse or subvert Domestic Violence threats.
The stigma of fear and shame, resulting from stereotypical or prescribed male gender masculinity roles presents an even greater barrier towards male victims within Domestic Violence relationships, as many of them can be unfairly labeled as weak when they try to reach out for help.
Young males between the ages of 11 and 17 are especially vulnerable to sexual predators as they are far less likely to report sexual abuse than their female counterparts within the same age group, due to the stigma surrounding male sexuality.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE
THE NUMBERS
Studies have show that:
25 percent of males have experienced some form of sexual violence or harassment.
7 percent of males were made to penetrate either a male or female during their lifetimes.
2.8 million men in the U.S. alone, have reported experiencing either rape or attempted rape scenarios in their lifetime.
I in 5 men have reported experiencing some other form of unwanted sexual contact, such as groping or workplace sexual discrimination.
54 percent of transgender communities have reported experiencing violence.
Male sexual violence is most prevalent amongst the younger male population, as young boys have far less autonomy, authority, and many lack the means to subvert unwanted acts of sexual abuse or sexual aggression projected towards them.
STALKING
Men as victims of predatory stalking by an intimate partners is of particular note, as stalking is known to encompass other Domestic Violence implications as well, such as sabotage and the destruction of their personal property etc. It is reported that an estimated 6 million men have faced the threat of stalking within personal relationships.
PHYSICAL VIOLENCE
Due to the obvious size and weight differences amongst most males and females, it is believed to be absurd that physical assault or victimization by an intimate partner, especially a woman, can be carried out. However, this is quite the contrary. Most acts of physical violence are almost always preceded by some form of psycho-emotional violence, involving the process of grooming or grinding down the self-esteem and relationship ideology of normalcy within dysfunctional relationships, making way for some form of physical violence to occur later on. It is this process of wearing down the natural self preservation habits and healthy relationship concepts of victims that primarily contribute to most male patterns of physical violence.
FINANCIAL VIOLENCE
Due to the nature of the power dynamic within Domestic Violence relationships-namely the desire by predators to get and keep power and control over victims, almost all DV relationships include some form of economic violence. This is true for both female and male victims of violence.
Likewise, largely due to discrimination and fear, patterns of male financial abuse are a real threat, especially amongst homosexual and transgender communities, forcing many who identify as homosexual or transgender into “sex work” or prostitution types of survival modalities.
90 percent of all Domestic Violence reportedly includes some form of economic abuse...such as:
· Maxing out credit card balances without permission.
· Destroying the credit scores of victims to prevent them from acquiring financial resources or for the purposes of engaging in financial victimization scams.
· Withholding financial necessities to maintain coercive control over victims.
· Stealing or destroying victims belongings.
Discouraging or even sabotaging efforts to acquire financial freedom from work, school, or other training program
TRANSGENDER VIOLENCE
Most information on Domestic Violence is geared toward women and children, with much less surrounding the male DV victim, and until the emergence of LGBTQ Initiatives, violence information and statistics surrounding the gay and transgender community was almost non– existent.
Gay and transgender violence is among one of the most volatile types of intimate partner violence, with large numbers of its members being targeted and even killed as a result. And while efforts have been made to protect these vulnerable groups from harm, there is still work to be done as there are significantly less resources available to help LGBTQ communities than there are within all other DV service groups.
You Are Not Alone
Domestic Violence does not discriminate. and, there is no shortage of predators on the prowl, hunting for people to victimize and discard, with both men and women sharing equally in the confines of these volatile social structures.
Each year billions of dollars are spent within healthcare and social services industries in an effort to help victims leave unhealthy relationship dynamics, so that they might have the chance to develop the tools they need to live healthy lives. And while the methods of the application of violence perpetrated against men might be slightly different that those methods perpetrated amongst women. The fact is that men suffer as a result of domestic violence also.