Domestic Violence against Men in India: A Perspective

Abstract

In the absence of any systemic data, with more men coming up and reporting violence by women, it is important to understand and examine the issue of violence against men by women and associated factors. With changing gender roles and power relations, the author predicts that this will increase in the future, which will have far-reaching consequences and implications for the larger society and relationships between men and women. The paper attempts to understand the dynamics and factors that play or will play a crucial role in escalating violence against men by women. The paper is based on author's counseling sessions, discussion with men victims of violence, and other secondary sources.

KEYWORDS:

• Domestic violence
• violence against men
• gender
• norm
• values

Notes

I am thankful to my colleagues, students, and friend for their comments and suggestions.

This paper raises the social concern and is not an attempt to undermine the movement to stop violence against women.

1. See the interview with Murray Straus of the UNH Family Research Lab. (www.vortxweb.net/gorgias/mens_issues/straus_interview.html)

2. About domestic violence against men (Mentor Research Institute, 2007).

3. Verbal and emotional violence includes insult, name calling, accusations on character and conduct, preventing from taking up a job, forcing to leave job, preventing men from meeting any person in the normal course of events, threat to commit suicide, and any other verbal or emotional abuse.