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

Introduction
This chapter highlights the research aim of this dissertation and gives a brief
introduction that looks at and conceptualises the research topic. The researcher’s
interest in the area of male victims of domestic violence is looked at and concludes with
a brief description of each chapter.
Research aim
The aim of this research is to inform social work practice of the difficulties male victims
of domestic violence experience and to document these experiences. To achieve the
research aim the dissertation has been structured around the following themes so that
the experiences of male victims can be drawn from and documented throughout the
dissertation.
• Domestic violence and society in relation to male victims.
• The levels of reporting of domestic violence by male victims.
• The main types of abuse male victims of domestic violence suffer.
• The main affects of domestic violence on male victims.
• The services available to male victims of domestic violence.
• The law and male victims of domestic violence.
• Male victims of domestic violence and social work.
To generate the required knowledge needed to accomplish the research aim the research
has employed the following methods, a literature review, a focus group and individual
interviews.
Brief introduction to research topic
In my research I will be looking at domestic violence on adult male victims in Ireland.
“IN THE SAFETY OF OUR HOME”, for some people these words mean happiness,
comfort and security, a place to retreat from the world. Domestic violence translates
these words into fear, shame, isolation and despair. Victims can feel trapped in the
relationship. This is a process by which the abuser feeds off the power over their
victim. No one wants to admit, especially men, that they feel safer walking the streets
at night rather than in their own home. The occurrence of domestic violence in our
society is one of the most unseen destructive forces with no boundaries in relation to
age, class, race, gender or geographical location.
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