There is an all-too-common misconception that only women and children are the victims of domestic violence. While it is true that most official reports regarding partner violence involve women as victims and men as perpetrators, the opposite is often true. In fact, some domestic violence advocates believe abuse against men is more common than people think. The following information is important for you and others in Minnesota to understand about domestic violence against men.
Men are stronger than women, so a woman is physically unable to hurt a man, right? While it may be true that men generally have greater strength than women, this does not mean that your wife is unable to harm you. Often, abusive women attack their male partners in their sleep or use weapons against them. A man may have grown up with the instruction to never strike a woman, and he might refuse to do so even in self-defense. It is also true that some women have a physical advantage over their partners, whether due to size or training in combat methods.
According to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, about 4 percent of men have reported being physically injured by their partners, and about half of men report psychological aggression from their partners. The following challenges could make it difficult to report or escape abuse from your female partner:
- General social stigma, disbelief and ridicule by others regarding domestic violence against men
- Desire to protect your children from your partner because divorce courts often favor women for custody
- Feelings of shame or failure at breaking up the family
- Fear that police will blame and arrest you for domestic violence instead of your spouse
- Lack of resources to protect, educate and assist male victims of domestic violence
Since there are fewer avenues to help men in domestic violence situations and less knowledge about the topic, it is essential for you to get in touch with an attorney who has experience in domestic violence cases.
