Male Survivors of Domestic Violence

Domestic violence can affect anyone. Anyone can be an abuser, and anyone can be a victim. Societal assumptions and prejudices about what constitutes manhood are largely responsible for male violence, but also impact how we see and respond to male victim-hood. Perpetrators of domestic violence against male victims include female and male intimate partners, as well as caregiver abuse against elderly and/or disabled male victims. Learn more about domestic violence.

Help is just a phone call away, 24 hours a day.

Domestic Violence Hotline (713) 528-2121

Impact on Male Survivors

• Male victims face added barriers of not being believed or being ridiculed when they try to report.
• Stereotyping of male victim-hood and the stigmas attached (he must be queer, soft, weak, or a ‘woman’) increases the sense of shame and makes men more reluctant to report.
• Social attitudes that men should be strong and invulnerable influences our formal support systems, like the police, judicial and medical systems. Even as victims, men have a higher risk of losing custody, and thus may fear reporting.
• These attitudes and resulting behavior often re-victimizes victims, especially if they are gay/bisexual/transgender.