You are a man in your 40s. Your wife regularly beats and berates you. She once deliberately drove over your foot. You give her everything you can manage to earn (and anything else friends and relatives will let you borrow). But she spends all the money on herself or gambles it away. She has falsely accused you of abuse. You now have a police record as a result. Yet you cannot break free.
Some 830,000 men were victims of domestic violence last year [1A]. Many men do not recognize that they are victims. Many more are ashamed to acknowledge the fact.
We are all familiar with the image of the “macho” male. Society defines men as strong and dominant. But men of all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and all occupations may be subject to abuse. Nor is abuse confined to heterosexual relationships.
Mary Todd Lincoln was known to have fits of rage. She once chased Abraham Lincoln around the yard with a knife.
Humphrey Bogart’s alcoholic third wife, Mayo Methot, pulled a gun on him at a dinner party. She stabbed him during another fight – an altercation Warner Bros. attempted to keep from the public. But the Bogarts’ tumultuous relationship was no secret. The press referred to the couple as the “Battling Bogarts” and their home as “Sluggy Hollow”.
Forms of Abuse
“Women were significantly more likely to throw an object, slap, kick/bite/hit with fist and hit with an object.”
-Philip Cook, “Abused Men: The Hidden Side of Domestic Violence”
Domestic violence against men can take a variety forms [2A]:
Verbal Abuse – This can range from private criticism to insults and humiliation in the presence of friends and colleagues.
Threats – These may express the intent to prevent children from seeing their father, if the abuse is reported; to harm children (or pets); or to “out” a gay or transgender individual.
False Accusations – Unsubstantiated accusations of infidelity or abuse may be made to an employer or police.
Physical Assault – This may involve hitting, punching, thrown objects, attacks while asleep, or use of a vehicle to cause injury.
Damage to Credit Rating and Finances – This can take the form of heedless spending, or deliberate default on major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage.
Escaping Abuse
“Domestic violence is not about size, gender, or strength. It’s about abuse, control, and power, and getting out of dangerous situations and getting help, whether you are a woman being abused, or a man.”
-Jan Brown [1B].
Like women, men remain in abusive relationships for multiple reasons. Men may feel they are protecting their children, may be motivated by religious beliefs, or may suffer from low self-esteem.
While escape from an abusive situation can be difficult, it is not impossible [2B]. Advice can be obtained from domestic violence programs and legal aid. Police may be skeptical at first when a man is the victim. However, they are under an obligation to protect victims, regardless of sex. Emergency services will step in to protect children. Counseling will facilitate healing.
Documenting the abuse is important. Reporting each incident of abuse to police will establish a record, as will seeking necessary medical attention (and truthfully identifying the cause of an injury as abuse).
Keeping a diary, taking photos, and — if feasible — recording an altercation can, also, be helpful. However, victims should operate on the assumption an abuser can gain access to their activity online when a computer is shared.
Men should never retaliate in kind, even if provoked. It is far wiser for them to leave, when practicable.
National Domestic Violence Hotline [3]
1-800-799-723
—
[1A and B] WebMD, “Help for Battered Men”, 2003, https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/help-for-battered-men#1.
[2A and B] HelpGuide, “Help for Men Who Are Being Abused” by Lawrence Robinson and Jeanne Segal, 3/18, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/help-for-men-who-are-being-abused.htm.
[3] The National Domestic Violence Hotline serves both men and women.
FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com
ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
This is such important information, Anna…thank you so much for sharing this!!! Everyone, regardless of a perception of privilege, deserves to be supported and assisted where abuse is concerned…as you so relevantly point out, abuse of power is never justifiable and is a social justice issue from which no one is exempt.
trulyunplugged, very true. Anna, tx for yet another important post…
You’re so kind. 🙂
Abuse is about power and control.What is it about us that makes us want to dominate another human being? This is evil, plain and simple. We were not created in His image to abuse, control, and dominate others. We were created to love one another. Apparently such a simple,naïve concept is beyond the comprehension of those bent upon destroying the lives of others.
Tragically, abuse will be with us till the end of time. It typifies what Christians know is the sin nature of mankind.
Great post on a subject that is often ignored.
Thank you, Christopher.
I want to wish you à great week end dear
Kisses
And the same to you! ❤
Wow!! I had no idea that this problem is as prevalent as you have described. It must mean that many men are suffering in silence too. I do like the tips you offered on what one can do. Great insights! 😍
Thank you for the compliment, Gbolabo! I so appreciate your support. 🙂 The sin nature of mankind is pervasive. Unfortunately, it does not exempt women.
Good pointing out abuse occurs to and from both sexes, as well as in any relationship type.
Domestic Violence, whether against women or men,often goes unreported. Men in particular may decide not to report violence by an intimate partner to law enforcement for fear of being labeled the instigator or not believed. No instance of domestic violence is justified, it’s never victim’s fault. 🙂#Himtoo
Well said.