Men Are Victims Too

-
It is rather unfortunate and prejudiced that the narrative concerning spousal abuse, or intimate partner violence always seems to come from the reference point that men are the abusers. While statistics indicate that more women are victims of domestic abuse; the society should acknowledge that men, too, are victims of domestic violence. The fact that spousal abuse continues to be viewed through gender- specific lenses instead of gender- neutral lenses is problematic. Whereas there are numerous avenues for women who are in abusive relationship, the avenues for men to receive support are limited. Given that there are many non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) that give both practical and psycho-social support for women in abusive relationships; the same cannot be said about men. It is commendable that the government has established a number of shelters across the island for women who have emerged from abusive relationships and who require short term living accommodation, yet there are no government shelters for men who might also require this same level of government support on a short term basis. Once again, the assumption used to guide such policies is limited in the scope and reach. Many men are in abusive relationships and do not know where to turn for help. We live in a hyper-masculine society where men are ridiculed for stating that they are victims of domestic violence. Understanding Violence Against Men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1 in 10 men in the United States of America experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime and reported some form of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)-related impact. Commonly reported IPV-related impacts among male victims were fear, concern for safety, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, among others. The CDC adds 1 in 3 men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Nearly 56% of men who were victims of contact sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner first experienced these or other forms of violence by that partner before the age of 25. Unfortunately, the statistics for Jamaica is not known. Abuse is rooted in mental control and manipulation. Intimate Partner Violence is in fact an epidemic. Victims are often financially dependent, and the possibility of homelessness is real. Men, too, require safe spaces to process their thoughts and ideas while they emerge from such unhealthy, toxic situations. The time has come for us as a society to be fair regarding how resources and support are allocated. Undoubtedly, there needs to be a broader and more inclusive approach regarding how we treat domestic violence in the society. It ought not to be that men’s issues are an afterthought. We need to critically interrogate the issue at hand and craft specific policies and establish practical solutions which are geared at addressing the needs of men who are in abusive relationships. Gender and development should never be viewed through a one size fit all criterion. Gender equality should be an inclusive and practical concept. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #genderequality #intimatepartnerviolence #domesticviolence

Comments

  1. Dayle T17 June 2023 at 19:00

    Sadly a lot of men don't even report these incidents because of embarrassment or shame.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. IGCEJm19 June 2023 at 14:39

      The shame and or embarrassment belongs to the abusers not the victims. We need to foster a culture of inclusivity where everyone feels part of the citizenry.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Insecticides, Air Travel And Safety

-
Image
We are not insects, we are human beings. To travel by air is a privilege. Air travel is a costly adventure as well.   Those of us who have been fortunate to travel oftentimes experience some amount of excitement leading up to that moment. This heightened sense of emotion happens to almost all of us irrespective of whether we are a frequent flyer or a first timer. This buzz never goes away regardless of whether you travel economy or first class. However, for some folks there is a sense of nervousness during travel. There are numerous lessons we can learn whenever we travel. For example, our outlook on life is often altered due to the interaction with other peoples and cultures. Once the airplane takes off and you begin to ascend into the clouds, sometimes of altitude unbelievable to those without this experience, one can feel like someone who is imprisoned until your flight lands and you disembark. It is usually at those altitudes that the airline crew informs you that they are going to
Read more

Vessels of Honour: Celestial Treasures

-
Image
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”- Psalm 51:10. Many of us have a skewed understanding of God our creator. In many instances we believe or are led to believe that in order to be used by God we must be pure and sinless. This tainted view undoubtedly also impacts our relationships we have with God. Having such a distorted view of God and what God demands from us oftentimes lead us into disobedience. The same is true concerning the weight of condemnation. It is for this reason why it is critical for us to spend time in the Word of God which is the Bible. We all need to know God for ourselves. We often make excuses to study the Bible, yet, we will spend hours on social media or hours gossiping people’s business. Nowhere is gossiping more pronounced than in the church. The church as we know it is not a place of honesty. Why do I say this? Oftentimes we turn to the church in our moments of weakness and vulnerability yet, the solace and compassion that
Read more

Interrogating Black Fatherhood

-
Image
“What I've realized is that life doesn't count for much unless you're willing to do your small part to leave our children all of our children a better world. Any fool can have a child. That doesn't make you a father. It's the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.”- Barack Obama. Fatherhood, especially black fatherhood oftentimes is not as celebrated as it should. As a result we continue to hear of the arguments surrounding my mother who fathered me. There are specific roles concerning the sexes and frankly speaking mothers cannot father children, likewise fathers cannot mother children. Indeed as a society we need to move the discussion away from these examples of oxymoron. This flawed premise has been around so long and unfortunately has become normalized in many societies. However, the time has come for us to have a serious and honest discussion as this argument must be interrogated and replaced with a sense of responsibility. In fact, there is one m
Read more