‘It’s deemed unmanly’: men’s experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV)

Abstract

This study investigated male victims’ experiences of female-perpetrated intimate partner violence (IPV). Seven participants were interviewed and the data were analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Four essential themes were revealed. (1) Participants identified themselves as victims of abuse (experiencing physical and multiple forms of abuse). (2) They felt they were victims of controlling abuse (through the use of children and isolation). (3) Respondents experienced manipulation through gendered stereotypes of abuse. (4) They felt it was different because they were men. The participants within this study were often deeply affected by the abuse they had experienced. Previous research has found male abusers use societal structures and norms to enable their abuse. The participants in this study felt that their female abusers were equally adept doing this, although the mechanisms were different. Further research should look at the processes by which abusers of either gender control and abuse their victims.

Keywords:

• Female-perpetrated intimate partner violence (IPV)
•  interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)
•  partner abuse
•  gendered stereotypes of abuse
• societal expectations of masculinity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.