Abused men : a comparative analysis

Abstract

The area of domestic abuse has been widely acknowledged, but it seems that the experience of men as victims of domestic abuse has been rarely explored, especially in our country. This dissertation will try to shed light on the experience of domestically abused men by their female partners. The dissertation will describe the experience of abused men and compare it with that of abused females. It also considers the perception of Maltese society in regards to victims of different sexes. These will be explored through in-depth interviews with both male and female victims together with a questionnaire with the general public. Twelve interviews were conducted with male victims while six were conducted with female victims. The questionnaire involved five hundred and fifty one participants coming from different social sectors. This dissertation also reviews literature available on the experience of domestically violated men and also gives a look at the situation in Malta in regards to the family structure and domestic violence. At present, no services seem to specifically target abused men, especially when it comes to shelters. This study points out the need for the creation of a new service but especially for the need that society becomes aware of such dynamic since otherwise better support for male victims would not be possible. It seems that currently the focus is solely on female victims, placing male victims at the margin, leading to further victimisation. The reasons suggest lack of awareness on the area with paternalism playing a strong contribution. Findings further suggest that changes are required for society to shift their attitude in regards to domestic abuse especially in becoming aware that though females do not abuse as an extension of paternalism, there are other reasons of abuse which can be as harmful. A major contribution could be made through the media and awareness campaigns which could help society become more aware of the reality of domestic abuse on males. The implications would be providing more assistance and adopting an attitude of zero tolerance towards abuse independent of who is the perpetrator and form of abuse experienced.