Men Are Victims of Domestic Violence, Too
The spate of knife crime across the pond that has thrown the British press into quite a tizzy got me wondering about similar U.S. stats. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, knives were used in 14 percent of the homicides that occurred in 2005 (the most recent year for which data was posted). Handguns were used in about 55 percent. No surprises there.
What I didn't anticipate, however, was that my online search for information about knife violence would keep turning up sites about domestic violence against men. This post from the website batteredmen.com, for example, kept appearing, making the case that domestic violence against men—which not infrequently involves knives—is too often overlooked. That site looks a little rough around the edges, so I checked further into the peer-reviewed research.
I was surprised to find out that about 835,000 men are physically assaulted or raped by their intimate partners each year, according to a study published in 2007 and authored by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number could quite possibly be even larger, since it's thought that many men don't report domestic abuse. (Psychiatric News has an interesting write-up of the study, which among other things points out that women seem often to instigate violence). Also interesting: There seems to be tendency for women to use knives—as opposed to guns—against their husbands when domestic violence flares. According to the Department of Justice, about 6 percent of female and 10 percent of male victims faced partners armed with knives.
There's little doubt that women endure more of all types of domestic violence than men, including knife violence; the CDC reported that 1.5 million women are victims each year. But it's easy to forget that the violence can go both ways.
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Domestic violence
Men are abused, and I am a survivor of domestic violence by my now ex-wife. The justice system has done so many injustices agaisnt me that it has tried to destroy my life. I have had 7 animals get killed, brakes cut, gasoline thrown on my house, phone lines cut 26 times and eventually my house burnt with me in it. The justice system here turns it on the man. Men can not be victims, so in turn not only do we as men loose but my 2 boys have too. I have contacted the Senator, Governor and Congressman, but all say that it is out of their hands or refer me to domestic violence shelter or advocacy. How is this bringing awareness that men are victims, when will this stop, what when I am dead. Where is the HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!
Where do I turn, what resources is there?
Abused Men
We have started a new site. http://menarevictimstoo.webs.com/
Please come join us. Bear with us as we get the site up, we hope to provide advocacy and information for abused men and their children.
When men are falsely accused of domestic
I've dealt with a very controlling and jealous wife for years. She has called the police several times and I've been arrested and was always found not guilty. Either due to her not appearing at court or either admitting the truth. Never thought it would get to this point. On 7 July 2008 she took it a step further when she decided to make up a horrible incident to the authorities. Am facing several felonies which I didn't committment. I've had to use all of my savings to make Bond and it's like am getting no where. I lost my job for being arrested. I was scheduled to go back in the US Army as a Recruiter but that has also changed due to the arrest and not being able to go in with open charge. She has made up so many lies that it's unreal. I've been discharged from the Reserves and lost another job offer due to me needing to be in the US Army Reserves to have this position. Everything has been turn completely upside down in a day. Have legal representation from a public defender which seems like I'm representing myself. I have everything to support my case but it's like the justice system makes you wait even when they know the warrant as well as the incident report and the victim statement doesn't adds up. I need help if there is anyone able to understand how you came become the victim when they claim you are the suspect.
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