Why Men Don't Report Domestic Abuse: A Qualitative Study

Introduction and Problem Statement

Today, domestic violence in the United States has been well-documented as a major social problem with a number of adverse consequences, including threats of bodily harm, forced emotional and economic exploitation, unwanted sexual encounters, and physical and psychological abuse (Carney, 2014). Domestic violence has also been referred to as "family violence," "interpersonal violence," "spousal battering," and "intimate partner violence," but all of these constructs share the same underlying controlling components (Carney, 2014). Although it goes by several different terms, domestic violence remains commonplace throughout the country and adversely affects everyone involved, irrespective of gender, age, race, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, nationality, or religion (Domestic violence fact sheet, 2018).

While most Americans believe that domestic violence is primarily directed against women, nearly as many men are abused each year with the same adverse outcomes (Domestic violence statistics, 2018). In fact, more than 25% of American men report having been domestically abused — including severe physical violence — at some point during their relationships (Domestic violence statistics, 2018), and many authorities suggest the figure is much higher (Dutton, 2011). These disturbing statistics clearly represent a significant public health threat in the United States.

The overarching purpose of this qualitative study is to develop timely and informed answers to the following research questions:

1. Why do men continue to stay silent about being abused?
2. How is domestic violence different for men compared to women?
3. What obstacles do men face when trying to prove that they are victims of domestic violence?

Importance of the Problem

While there have been aggressive efforts directed at addressing domestic violence against women in the United States in recent years, far less attention has been paid to domestic violence against men — most especially because of the stigma associated with such abuse in an otherwise male-dominated society (Dutton, 2011). Carney (2014) emphasizes that "domestic violence against men often goes unrecognized for a variety of reasons. Men may be reluctant to report abuse because of embarrassment or fear of ridicule [or] they may be afraid they won't be believed. Therefore, less is known about male victims and the consequences of women as perpetrators" (p. 37).

Likewise, a seminal study by Phelan, Hamberger, Guse, Walczak, and Zosel (2005) determined that although men initiate domestic violence more often than women, men are far less likely to contact law enforcement authorities as a result of female-initiated domestic violence. Moreover, the same patterns have also been identified in same-sex relationships between males (Dutton, 2011). Taken together, the research to date confirms the harsh realities of domestic abuse against men and highlights the need for additional studies in this area.

Literature Review

While domestic abuse directed against men has been recognized for several decades, and the overwhelming majority (98%) of men in North America are against domestic abuse in any form (Dutton, 2011), far too many men continue to suffer in silence in abusive relationships. They do so for several of the same reasons that compel abused women to stay, but there are also compounding factors that must be taken into account when examining domestic violence directed against men. In this regard, Dutton (2011) emphasizes that "the attribution of female domestic violence to self-defense has been a shibboleth in the gender-biased world. It was invented as an explanation for the potentially embarrassing yet persistent finding that females perpetrated violence against their intimate partners as much or more than males" (p. 29).

Social science researchers such as Geert Hofstede have confirmed time and again that, despite impressive gains by women in recent years, the United States remains a male-dominated society. Hofstede concludes that "the score of the US on Masculinity is high at 62, and this can be seen in the typical American behavioral patterns. This can be explained by the combination of a high Masculinity drive together with the most Individualist drive in the world" (U.S. masculinity, 2018, para. 4). Given these findings, it is reasonable to suggest that underlying cultural dynamics exacerbate the propensity of some American women to engage in domestic abuse against their intimate partners.

Certainly, any type of intimate relationship is typically fraught with challenges such as financial or sexual issues, which can result in heated exchanges between partners. When these exchanges rise to the level of abusive behaviors, a growing body of evidence confirms that men are just as prone to such abuse as women. It is important to note, however, that domestic violence exists along a continuum ranging from relatively benign, isolated episodes — such as a sharp word or passing insult — all the way to homicide. As Liebler and Hatef (2016) point out, "people generally agree that physical acts such as punching or forced sex constitute domestic violence, although less agreement is found for forms of verbal aggression or behaviors such as stalking" (p. 7). While precise figures are unavailable, the most current estimates suggest that about 12% of American men report having been stalked by a female partner who made them fearful for their safety and even their lives (Men can be victims of abuse, too, 2014).

As noted above, most authorities believe that even the highest estimates of female-initiated domestic abuse are low. The reasons for this disparity in reported domestic abuse rates can be attributed to the following factors:

• Men are socialized not to express their feelings or see themselves as victims;
• Pervasive beliefs or stereotypes cast men as abusers and women as victims;
• The abuse of men is often treated as less serious, or even as a "joke"; and
• Many believe there are no resources or support available for male victims (Men can be victims of abuse, too, 2014).

While the first three factors are not unique to the United States and likely apply to all masculine societies, the final factor is especially erroneous, since there is a wide array of community-based resources that can help male victims of domestic violence. Nevertheless, unless and until American men are able to shrug off the stigma associated with being victimized by an intimate female partner, they will continue to suffer in silence — and many will die as a result of such abuse.

Conclusion and References

The underreporting of domestic violence against men represents a significant and ongoing public health concern in the United States. Cultural norms that cast men as invulnerable, combined with institutional barriers and a lack of awareness of available resources, continue to silence male victims. The proposed qualitative study — using document analysis, focus groups, and semi-structured interviews — seeks to shed light on these barriers and generate evidence that can inform more inclusive policy and support frameworks for all victims of intimate partner violence.

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Domestic violence fact sheet. (2018). NCADV. Retrieved from https://www.speakcdn.com/assets/2497/domestic_violence2.pdf.

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Phelan, M. B., Hamberger, L. K., Guse, C. E., Edwards, S., & al, e. (2005). Domestic violence among male and female patients seeking emergency medical services. Violence and Victims, 20(2), 187–206.

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Appendix A: Proforma Informed Consent Form

Informed consent will be obtained following university guidelines and will include the following details:

• Identification of the researcher
• Sponsoring institution
• Purpose of the study
• Benefits or risks of participating
• Type of participant involvement
• Confidentiality guarantee
• Assurance of participant opportunity to withdraw
• Contact information for questions