Stevens 1

Professor Sieczkowski

ENGLISH 2010-007

5/1/17

Domestic violence is the deliberate intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or

other abusive behavior towards an individual. It includes physical violence, sexual violence,

psychological violence, and emotional abuse. Often we visualize women and children as the only

victims of domestic abuse, however this is not entirely true. Domestic violence is an epidemic

affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation,

gender, race, religion, or nationality. Men are also major victims of domestic abuse. Often many

important conversations surround women, but men are forgotten in the conversation. It is

important to look at both sides of the conversation to help put an end to domestic violence.

Nearly 40% of domestic abuse victims are actually men. This is almost half of all cases, and this

number is increasing every year as more men begin to speak up against their abusers. Men are

less likely to speak up against their abusers because of gender bias. This bias comes from society

and police officers. Society and police do not see men as victims, and often male victims are

treated as perpetrators. 35% of male victims are ignored, while 47% are actually threatened by

police. Men are not seen as victims in society and many reports are thrown out each year. Men

are seen as the culprits of domestic abuse and this can be shown by wrongful arrests. Around

21% of male victims will actually be arrested in place of their abuser.

 Stevens 2

This gender bias leads men to believe that they are better off not speaking out against their

partners. In fact, men are four times less likely to report domestic violence against them. While

these numbers are still staggering, it is important to note that many of these numbers are

arbitrarily low because of the lack of reports.

In the United States alone 834,700 men will be physically violated by their partners. In

comparison to women and children this number is pretty low, but it is still a huge number!

Around one in four men are or will be victims of abuse in their lifetime. This abuse leads to

psychological and even physical problems in the future for men, women and children!

To put an end to domestic abuse, society needs to have an entire conversation about the issue. It

is not a one-sided issue either way. Both men and women are equal in these problems, and both

sides need to be taken very seriously. Accusers and victims need to be taken seriously, and

shown respect and dignity regardless of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, or nationality.

Speak up and speak out against domestic violence.

 Stevens 3

1. Statistics. Statistics, ncadv.org/learn-more/statistics. Accessed 15 Feb. 2017.

2. Statistics. The National Domestic Violence Hotline,

www.thehotline.org/resources/statistics. Accessed 15 Feb. 2017.

3. Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics | RAINN. Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics

RAINN, www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence. Accessed 10 Feb. 2017.

4. Shuler, Charletta A. "Male Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in the United States: An
Examination of the Review of Literature through the Critical Theoretical Perspective."
International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences (IJCJS).

5. Tsui, Venus. "Male Victims of Intimate Partner Abuse: Use and Helpfulness of Services."
Social Work, vol. 59, no. 2, Apr. 2014, pp. 121-130, EBSCOhost, doi:sw/swu007.

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or
other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one
intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological
violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary
dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partners
consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other. Domestic violence is an epidemic
affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation,
gender, race, religion, or nationality. It is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and
controlling behavior that is only a fraction of a systematic pattern of dominance and control.
Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and in severe cases, even
death. The devastating physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of domestic
violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.