SOCIETY’S VIEW ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST MEN

BY: SONAL JAIN III- B.Com. LL.B (Hons) C section

Reg. No: HB21120

ABSTRACT:

This study advocates the importance of domestic violence against men and the causes and
reasons of the said social issue. The questionnaire was circulated among respondents and
distinguished results were obtained as some people know about IPV and some don’t. This
research study also states the importance of gender neutral laws against domestic violence.
Spousal abuse is not something that is faced by only one gender. The general presumption
or preconceived notions that have been into our society since bygone is that men are
supposed to be strong, mighty and they are generally supposed to bottle up their emotions.
If they show or expose their vulnerabilities then they are labeled as being sissy, effeminate,
and many other derogatory terms. Finally, it is said that domestic violence of men is as
important as that of domestic violence of women and should not be ignored. The data
collected in this research is primary and is collected through google forms and is mainly
focused on the view of the society in accordance to domestic violence against men.

KEYWORDS:

IPV (intimate partner violence), Psychological intervention, Domestic violence, Gender

neutral laws

INTRODUCTION:

Domestic violence — also known as intimate partner violence — occurs between people
who are or have been in a close relationship. Domestic violence can take many forms,
including emotional, sexual and physical abuse, stalking and threats of abuse. It can
happen in heterosexual or same-sex relationships.

The problem is that domestic abuse is rarely given significant attention in our society. In
the event that it affects women, it is written off as a problem unique to women.
Furthermore, it is not even thought to be conceivable if it involves men. Therefore, it is
imperative that we stop looking at marital abuse through a patriarchal prism and begin to
take it seriously. Domestic violence, intimate partner violence, and spousal violence are all
wrong, regardless of the gender of the offender. In addition to educating people about
domestic abuse against women, we also need to support males who are victims of this
terrible practice. We must establish a society based on equality rather than another
autocracy.

Astonishingly, 51.5% of 1000 males in India had at least one incident of domestic abuse in
their lifetime. Therefore, all forms of violence, including domestic abuse, are crimes
against humanity and a violation of fundamental human rights. Emotional abuse and
violence are the most common forms of intimate relationship and domestic violence, and
they are typically not reported by victims. Physical abuse of males can take many forms,
such as shoving, slapping, striking by the wife, her parents, or other family members, or
hurling dishes, mobile phones, and utensils at the husband. Slapping was found to be the
most frequent type of physical abuse, accounting for 98.3% of instances; beatings with a
weapon accounted for just 3.3% of cases. Men only reported severe physical attacks in 10
percent of cases. Men who experience psychological and/or emotional abuse report
receiving criticism from others (85%), being insulted in public or in front of others
(29.7%), and being threatened or injured (3.5%). Insane threats against the spouse and his
family are another kind of mental abuse. A tiny percentage of males, 0.4%, have reportedly
been the victims of sexual assault; often, this occurs when the guy denies having sex.

Men are likewise victims of a variety of situations and forms of violence. Even though it is
less widespread and less thought of, sexual abuse, assault, and crimes against males do not
always go unreported. Men are more frequently forced into unintentional sexual acts in
order to win prizes or promotions, stay on top of their career, or win over their wives. A
number of males have also disclosed that, as children or young adults, they were sexually
assaulted and/or molested by both men and women who were either family members or
who harassed them in public. This is frequently dismissed as unimportant and linked to
being "not man enough," which discourages more people from reporting it. Men also claim
that if they are not able to perform, their partners tease, mock, and mistreat them. Many
men also participate in a number of upsetting sexual behaviors while not liking the deed
because they feel pressured to please and satisfy their spouses. Another important and
frequently documented phenomenon is performing anxiety. If a person experiences this
and is deemed unmanly if they are unable to perform or maintain the act for a sufficient
amount of time, the blame is unfairly placed on the man's performance rather than being
more considerate of the couple's needs.
Many young men in India who have decent incomes and degrees are kidnapped and forced
into marriage against their will. Allegations of fake rape and other allegations like dowry,
false molestation, and domestic abuse are also frequently seen. This is considered as the
outcome of societies and the law's biased worldview, which has historically favored
women as the weaker sex. In addition, a number of married women also have extramarital
encounters, which strains an already fragile marriage.

The psychological effects of violence against males outweigh the physical ones, even if it
can cause serious assaultive injuries, injuries, and in rare cases even death. Numerous
psychological impacts of violence against males have been documented by studies. Men
describe experiencing a variety of emotions, such as rage, retaliation, guilt, fear, emotional
anguish, unloved, and helplessness. The likelihood of having severe sadness, stress, and
psychosomatic problems increases with the amount of violence encountered. Additionally,
some research has shown that males who have been the victims of violence have greater
rates of psychological distress and despair than men who have not. These internalized
feelings should be read, while not forgetting that these are also experienced by women
almost 2–3 folds higher in the overall population. It may also increase the risk of suicide.

Men who have experienced abuse and violence are unlikely to seek psychiatric assistance
for their issues. One of the key causes is that males believe it is degrading to be mistreated
by women and that it is disgraceful for them to seek aid as fellow guys. The man also feels
ashamed since he can't handle the abuse on his own and is stigmatized for not being a man
and confronting the assault. Another element is the dread of being made fun of and laughed
at. In addition, the majority of domestic violence organizations in India focus on women
and employ a higher proportion of female counselors, psychologists, and staff members.
Many of these organizations may also employ trained personnel who, as women, were
victims of domestic abuse. The majority of the time, domestic violence against women is
the subject of the instruction. The way that domestic abuse against males is handled may
vary depending on how the victim is treated, just like it does for women. They also refrain
from asking for assistance through that avenue out of fear of being made fun of by the
authorities. It is necessary to raise awareness of violence against males in organizations
and help them see that this is a real issue.

The Indian Penal Code 1860, Section 498A, states that a man is the only one who may be
prosecuted for abusing his wife. The act has no subsections or clauses that would hold a
woman accountable for domestic abuse. Not even the police listen to guys when they try to
come forward and report instances of physical assault and torture they have experienced.
When a guy reports domestic abuse, Indian culture frequently labels him as "effeminate" or
"feeble." Many males also do not disclose the domestic abuse they experience because they
believe that things will improve soon. Violence of any kind, whether it is mental or
physical, is a flagrant violation of people's rights. Domestic abuse incidents that go
unreported or unspoken can eventually result in splits, violent arguments, divorces,
despair, and even suicides. There are many false instances when a woman unjustly accuses
a guy of rape or domestic abuse because of the biased rules in the Indian Penal Statute that
favor women. The terrible part about these biased laws is that they inherently presume that
a male can never be the victim. Women don't have to provide any kind of documentation to
demonstrate their sincerity. The biased laws assume them to be real animals.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

 Kimmel M. Male Victims of Domestic Violence: A Substantive and

Methodological Research Review Volume 1, Cited by 240 (2002): In his book on
Male Victims of Domestic Violence said that domestic violence is one of the major
problems and men also suffer from domestic violence at the hands of their wives or
intimate partners. Efforts to prevent domestic violence and its successful
implementation have followed years of research and advocacy on behalf of their
victims. New laws, police procedures, medical and forensic research have improved
the conditions of men who suffer from domestic violence. In recent years, domestic
violence has become a hot topic among activists, individuals, and many
organizations. After decades of research, many political activists are now shouting
this at the top of their voice that both men and women can be the victim of
domestic violence in roughly the equal number. Despite several studies that have
suggested that only women can face domestic violence at the hands of men, the
other 100 empirical studies suggest that the victims of domestic violence can be
both men and women. This has provoked the enthusiastic ‘male gender activists’
that policymakers should keep in mind regarding the policies related to domestic
violence who made policies and laws mainly focusing on women.
 Rudranigupta Domestic Violence Against Men: Why Don't We Take It Seriously?
for Shethepeople Volume 1 issue 1 (2022): Said that this is not the first time that
incident of domestic violence against men has been reported in India. Shockingly,
 out of 1000 men, 51.5 per cent experience spousal violence in India at least once in
their lives. Even then, domestic violence against men is not recognised as a crime
by Indian law. The laws against domestic violence are women-centric excluding the
possibility that men too can be harassed. Eventually, many men who face domestic
violence either do not seek any justice or have to use other laws that address mental
harassment or grievous harm. Due to this, many men face false charges of domestic
violence in India that completely ruins their lives. Moreover, even if women are
found guilty of abusing their husbands, they get out of it easily because there is no
stringent law against it.
 Lorber. J. The Social Construction of Gender Volume 1 cited by 296 (2018): in his
book, explained that gender is socially constructed and is influenced by many
factors. People often misunderstand the term gender and sex. They are quite
different. In the book sex refers to what we inherit, such as male or female and
gender is what we learn. Gender is nothing but a device that is used by society to
control its members. Gender sometimes as social class and race can be used to
make stereotypes and prejudices against people. Prejudices are a set of attitudes that
are offensive to one section of the society, while discrimination is the overt
negativity towards a person depending on his superfluous identity. Also, these
books seek to explain various stereotypes and gender-based discrimination towards
both genders. It is also given in the book that gender identity is influenced by social
variables and it has almost nothing or very little to do with the biological variables.
 Verena Kolbe Domestic Violence Against Men—Prevalence and Risk Factors
Volume 1 cited by 92 (2020): Dealing with this stigmatized topic in an open and
supportive way is a mandatory prerequisite to identifying victims of domestic
violence in routine clinical practice. To this end, more training measures for
physicians should be made available in order to raise awareness of the subject.
Hospital staff in particular has a key role in setting the course, and should thus be
supported by targeted training measures. Doctors from all specialties form an
interface between medical care, documentation of findings, and the wider support
system. Numerous recommendations exist for conducting a forensic-medical
examination and relevant documentation of findings in victims of violence; on the
basis of these the documentation of injuries of men who are victims of domestic
violence in medical practice should not pose any problem.
  Gregory L Examining a conceptual framework of intimate partner violence in men
and women arrested for domestic violence Volume 1 (1) cited by 208 (2006): in his
research paper talks about Examining a conceptual framework of intimate partner
violence in men and women arrested for domestic violence- The results of the study
provide further evidence that alcohol problems in both partners are important in the
evolution of psychological aggression and physical violence. There were minimal
differences between men and women in the relationships of most distal risk factors
with physical aggression, suggesting that the conceptual framework examined may
fit equally well regardless of perpetrator gender. This finding suggests that, in
arrested men and women, violence intervention programs might have improved
outcomes if they offered adjunct or integrated alcohol treatment.
 Earlier research was conducted through online questionnaire surveys, and general
and generalized linear models were used to examine the impact of age and gender
among the respondents. The research also proved that society knows about IPV
(Intimate Partner Violence) and also knows that not only women and children but
also men face domestic violence. Also society thinks that there should be gender
neutral laws made for the domestic violence as even men suffers domestic violence.

RESEARCH GAP:

Violence against men is one of the least spoken topics. This topic was chosen keeping in
mind that everyone should know what IPV against men is and also how it affects a person
personally and socially. This study is different from other studies as it investigates how and
why domestic violence against men is underreported and unfamiliar to the general public.
The study also concludes the reasons or the causes why domestic violence is happening in
this modern world.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM:

This research focuses on the problems faced by men as equal as to those of women when it
comes to domestic violence. Domestic violence in this society is not frequently expressed.
This violence goes unreported and that is why the government has not introduced a law for
domestic violence against men. Domestic violence in this society is a big problem and
should be spoken about and made laws about to render equality and justice as every
individual.
OBJECTIVES:

1. To find what people think about domestic violence against men.

2. To know their views on gender neutral laws.
3. To find why domestic violence against men gets unreported.
4. To know the causes and reasons of domestic violence against men.

METHODOLOGY:

The data that is used in this research includes both primary and secondary data.
Predominantly it includes primary data which was collected by circulating questionnaires
through Google forms. During the course of this research, I got to interact with many
people who helped me devise the method that I used in this research. By the telephonic
method, I collected the responses of some older persons who were unable to record their
responses through Google forms. For secondary data, I referred to the works of previous
researchers which helped me to understand that domestic violence against men is a serious
problem that has to be brought to the notice of the mainstream society who are the ones
that have a great influence over the issue.

TABULATION AND INTERPRETATION:

Socio Economic Variables

Table 1: Gender
Category No. of Respondents Percentage
Male 27 54%
Female 23 46%
Total 50 100%
Table 2: Age
Category No. of Respondents Percentage

Between 18-25 30 60%

Between 26-45 14 28%

46 and above 6 12%

Table 3: Educational Qualification

Category No. of Respondents Percentage

 UG 29 58%

PG 5 10%

Diploma 8 16%

Others 8 16%

Total 50 100%

Table 4: Occupation

Category No. of Respondents Percentage

Student 27 54%

Profession 4 8%

Business 7 14%

Employment or service sector 6 12%

Others 6 12%

Total 50 100%

Table 5: Monthly Salary

Category No. of Respondents Percentage

None 26 52%

Below 2,00,000 15 30%

Between 2,00,000- 4,00,000 4 8%

Above 4,00,000 5 10%

Total 50 100%

Table 6: Marital Status

Category No. of Respondents Percentage

Married 16 32%

Unmarried 34 68%
 Total 50 100%

Source: Primary Data

Interpretation: In this research out of 50 respondents 27(54%) of them were men and the
other 23(46%) of them are female.My research was mainly focused on ages between 18-45
and 45 above. As those are the main ages where a person gets to know about the violence
and can even experience it as a third person or a suffered person.Most of my respondents
were in college or had completed UG (29). Out of 50, 8 of them had done diploma and 8
chose others. 10% that is 5 respondents had done PG.54% of my respondents were students
which constitutes about 27 respondents. 14% (7) out of 100% were in business. 12% (6)
out of 100% were in employment or service sector as well as in others. 8% (4) out of 100%
were in profession as their occupation.26(52%) out of 50 respondents had no salary as
most of them were students. 15(30%) out of 50 respondent’s salary was below 2,00,000.
5(10%) out of 50 respondent’s salary was above 4,00,000. And the last 4(8%) out of 50
respondent’s salary was between 2,00,000- 4,00,000.34(68%) out of 50 respondents were
unmarried. 16(32%) out of 50 respondents were married.

Table 7: Public Opinion of Domestic Violence Against Men

Category Yes Percentage Maybe Percentage No Percentage

Have you ever heard of 21 42% 14 28% 15 30%

IPV?

Do you think domestic 28 56% 20 40% 2 4%

violence exists for men?

Do you think domestic 39 78% 9 18% 2 4%

violence affects a family?

Can domestic violence 35 70% 9 18% 6 12%

lead to depression?

Did you know it’s not just 30 60% 17 34% 3 6%

women and children that
face domestic violence but
men as well?
Should government take 38 76% 8 16% 4 8%
into consideration the
recent trends and make
gender neutral amendment
or provisions to existing
laws or make new laws?

If ever domestic violence 33 66% 12 24% 5 10%

was to occur to you would
you consider reporting it?

Should there be more 35 70% 15 30% 0 0%

awareness of domestic
violence against men?

Source: Primary data

Interpretation: 21(42%) out of 50 respondents had heard about IPV, 15(30%) out of 50
respondents had not heard about IPV, 14(28%) out of 50 respondents chose maybe.
28(56%) out of 50 respondents said that yes domestic violence existed for men which is a
good thing as most people are aware that IPV also exists for men, 20(40%) out of 50
respondents chose maybe, 2(4%) out of 50 respondents said that domestic violence doesn’t
exist for men. 39(78%) out of 50 respondents think domestic violence affects a family,
9(8%) out of 50 respondents chose maybe, 2(4%) out of 50 respondents said that domestic
violence doesn’t affect a family. 35(70%) out of 50 respondents think domestic violence
can lead to depression, 9(18%) out of 50 respondents chose maybe, 6(12%) out of 50
respondents said that domestic violence doesn’t lead to depression. 20(40%) out of 50
respondents chose no.

19(38%) out of 50 respondents chose preferred not to say, 11(22%) out of 50 respondents
chose yes, 30(60%) out of 50 respondents chose yes. 17(34%) out of 50 respondents chose
maybe, 3(6%) out of 50 respondents chose no, that they don’t think domestic violence is
faced by men, 38(76%) out of 50 respondents think chose yes. 8(16%) out of 50
respondents chose maybe, 4(8%) out of 50 respondents chose no, that government should
not make gender neutral laws against domestic violence, 35(70%) out of 50 respondents
think that there should be more awareness of domestic violence against men. 15(30%) out
of 50 respondents chose maybe, 0(0%) out of 50 respondents think that there shouldn’t be
more awareness of domestic violence against men, So to conclude respondent’s of this
research want more awareness to be raised of domestic violence against men.

Table 8: More prone to domestic violence

Category No. of Respondents Percentage

Female 24 48%

Male 8 16%

Prefer not to say 12 24%

Others 6 12%

Total 50 100%

Source: Primary data

Interpretation: 24(48%) out of 50 respondents chose female as more prone to domestic

violence. 12(24%) out of 50 respondent’s preferred not to say in this matter. 8(16%) out of
50 respondent’s chose male as more prone to domestic violence. And the last 6(12%) out
of 50 respondent’s chose others.

Table 9: Out of 10 men these many are subjected to domestic violence

Category No. of Respondents Percentage

1 2 4%

2 6 12%

3 6 12%

4 9 18%

5 8 165

6 6 12%

7 9 18%

8 3 6%

9 0 0%

10 1 2%
 Total 50 100%

Source: Primary data

Interpretation: Nearly 62% (31) of the respondents think that 1-5 out of 10 men are
subjected to domestic violence which means it is average. And the other half which holds
upto 12% (19) of the respondents think that 6-10 out of 10 men are subjected to domestic
violence.

Table 10: Causes of domestic violence

Category No. of Respondents Percentage

Lack of education 8 16%

Middle class value 9 18%

One person earning a 8 16%

higher income

Psychological reasons 25 50%

Total 50 100%

Source: Primary data

Interpretation: 25(50%) out of 50 respondents chose psychological reason as the cause.

9(18%) out of 50 respondent’s chose middle class value as the cause. 8(16%) out of 50
respondent’s chose one person earning a higher income and lack of education as the cause
for domestic violence against men.

Table 11: Reason for domestic violence against men going unreported

Category No. of Respondents Percentage

Social stigma 16 32%

Afraid of being made fun 13 26%

of

Denial 6 12%

Societal and family 15 30%

 pressure

Total 50 100%

Source: Primary data

Interpretation: 16(32%) out of 50 respondents chose social stigma as the reason. 15(30%)
out of 50 respondent’s chose societal and family pressure as the reason. 13(26%) out of 50
respondent’s chose afraid of being made fun of as the reason. 6(12%) out of 50
respondent’s chose denial as the reason for domestic violence against men get
underreported.

FINDINGS:

From the results, it is found that usually people believe that domestic violence against
men is not as much as women who doesn’t change the fact that it could be ousted as a
problem. Instead men should out speak their problem and challenges with domestic
violence as it could help in the amendment of our penal code and give gender neutral
laws.

Human rights and gender equality belongs to both men and women. In today’s times
where men are falsely accused of rapes, domestic violence, and sexual assault, gender-
neutral laws are needed for the hour. Domestic violence, this term nowhere indicates
that only women can be the victim of domestic violence, men can also be the victim and
not the only perpetrator. Domestic violence should be considered as spousal violence as
it is not only restricted to women.

In India, Domestic violence laws only protect women and not men. It gives a false
presumption that men can only be the perpetrator and not the victim. Domestic Violence
against men is gradually increasing day by day. Hence, special provisions and
amendments are required to make gender-neutral laws that will help the victims in
getting remedy and punishment for the culprit irrespective of gender. Specific laws and
amendments are needed to protect both of the spouses from domestic violence that is
still prevalent in our society.

LIMITATIONS:

The main limitation of this research would be acceptance. As people do not believe in
domestic violence happening to men it would be hard for them to accept the research.
Even I did not believe that men could be subjected to domestic violence, because as a
child I grew up in a male dominating world and I thought it would be impossible that a
man is a victim instead of a perpetrator. And after this research I hope people like me
get to know about this social issue and I hope the government makes gender neutral
laws as to the current society. And I motivate the men who are facing domestic violence
to come forward to speak and not care about the patriarchy.

CONCLUSION:

In recent times due to modernization and westernization, societal values, culture, norms
have changed a lot. Earlier men were seen as protectors of their family but nowadays
both men and women are equally working, raising and managing their homes with equal
contribution to their incomes. Men have now opened up about the domestic violence
that they face and now they have started sharing their pain, agony, and their struggles
openly. Men are no longer stronger than women. It’s high time that statute and laws too
should recognize their problem as a social problem or issue. Domestic violence against
men can be recognized with effective changes in the laws, by creating awareness and by
breaking stereotypes and preconceived notions.

REFERENCE:

1. Journals:
 Kimmel M. Male Victims of Domestic Violence: A Substantive and
Methodological Research Review Volume 1, Cited by 240 (2002)
 Lorber. J. The Social Construction of Gender Volume 1 cited by 296 (2018)
 Rudranigupta Domestic Violence Against Men: Why Don't We Take It Seriously?
for Shethepeople Volume 1 issue 1 (2022)
 Verena Kolbe Domestic Violence Against Men—Prevalence and Risk Factors
Volume 1 cited by 92 (2020)

 Gregory L Examining a conceptual framework of intimate partner violence in men

and women arrested for domestic violence Volume 1 (1) cited by 208 (2006)
 Vijaykumar Harbishetter and Suresh Bada Math Domestic Violence Against
Women Indian Perspective Volume 1 (2) cited by 36 (2014)

2. Books:
 Beverly Gooden- Surviving: Why We Stay and How We Leave Abusive
Relationships (2022)
 Rachel Louise Snyder- No Visible Bruises: What We Don’t Know About Domestic
Violence Can Kill Us (2019)
 Michelle Stevens- See What You Made Me Do: The Dangers of Domestic Violence
That We Ignore, Explain Away, or Refuse to See (2022)

3. Webliography:
 www.wikipedia.com
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
 www.surveymonkey.com
 https://blog.ipleaders.in