MALE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Informing Social ... - Amen

(1998), Sewel and Sewel (1996) Cook (1997) Wiehe (1998) McKeown and Kidd (2003)
and Cleary (2004) that society’s vision of men and women has been passed down
through the years as men being strong, the bread winner and women seen as being
vulnerable. McKeown and Kidd (2003) highlight the role played by the media, the
media has taken part in solidating society’s views, and coverage has reinforced this
view by portraying women as the only victims.
The response given by the focus group confirms the image of society being put forward
by the literature. As the finding from the focus group revealed a short but direct
response to this question. The group believed that society does not believe that a man
can be a victim of domestic violence.
An analysis of the social work interviews revealed a mixed response. The medical
social worker provided a very positive view towards male victims of domestic violence
and was proud of their active gender-neutral policy in place at the hospital. Figures
from Accident and Emergency show that 18% of male admissions are victims of
domestic violence. In child protection male and female victims of domestic violence
are treated the same, except the male victim’s motives for coming forward would be
questioned. The community social worker also pointed out that male victims of
domestic violence are taken seriously, but again if they had to take a position on one or
the other, they would more than likely side with the female.
The levels of reporting by male victims
An analysis of the literature revealed the following. Wiehe (1998) highlights that the
number of reported cases of domestic violence is only a percentage of its real ocurrence.
Cook (1997) holds the view that male victims of domestic violence underreport because
of a denial that exists within the victim, as he refers to as ‘Internal Excuses’. The levels
of reporting and society’s view of male victims of domestic violence co-exist as ‘cause
and affect’ of the underreporting of male victims of domestic violence. Stigma exists
for male victims of domestic violence, as pointed out by McKeown and Kidd (2003).
Balswick and Peck’s (1971) reinforce this with their portrait of what a man must
measure up to, ‘Society’s masculine ideals of men being physically tough, rough,
strong and dominant over women’. Is it a wonder then that men feel stigmatised with
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