Men who experience domestic abuse: a service perspective
| Published date | 08 April 2019 |
| Date | 08 April 2019 |
| Pages | 127-137 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-03-2018-0353 |
| Author | Sarah Wallace,Carolyn Wallace,Joyce Kenkre,Jo Brayford,Simon Borja |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace,Sociology,Gender studies,Gender violence,Political sociology, policy & social change,Social conflicts,War/peace |
Men who experience domestic
abuse: a service perspective
Sarah Wallace, Carolyn Wallace, Joyce Kenkre, Jo Brayford and Simon Borja
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore the needs of men experiencing domestic abuse from the
perspective of the professionals supporting them.
Design/methodology/approach –An all Wales qualitative study, 20 semi-structured interviews were
completed with managers and practitioners of domestic abuse services supporting men. Interviews were
analysed using thematic analysis.
Findings –Analysis identified six themes: against the tide of recognition, a need to recognise and accept
domestic abuse, knowledge of provision, low numbers of men, resources (time and funding) and rebuilding.
However, against the tide of recognition was central. Domestic abuse is understood as a heteronormative
and gendered experience; abused men defy these notions.
Research limitations/implications –Findings cannot be generalised across the UK. This study offers a
valuable base on which to build future knowledge. Future research might consider recruiting larger samples
or follow up qualitative findings with a larger quantitative survey.
Practical implications –This paper presents the manager and practitioner views of the service needs and
solutions for men. They perceive that abused men need to recognise and accept victimisation, have
knowledge of provision and know it is acceptable to seek help and receive practical support.
Social implications –Increasing recognition cannot be achieved in isolation. A shared commitment is
required from policy, practice and research to raise the agenda for abused men.
Originality/value –This is an under-researched area. This paper is the first to explore the needs of men
through the lens of domestic abuse professionals.
Keywords Support, Domestic violence, Domestic abuse, Male victims, Men, Provision
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Domestic abuse is a serious social problem and has become a priority for police and authorities
across the world (Mooney, 2000). Second-wave feminism situated the victimization of women
within the wider social and political context of gendered power imbalances (Laing and
Humphreys, 2013). Thus, men perpetrate abuse towards women to maintain control within
a patriarchal society. Also referred to as the gender paradigm (Dutton and Nicholls, 2005), this
perspective has been the leading perspective throughout America and Western Europe (Dutton,
2010). In the UK, intervention, support and policies have been informed and developed using
a gendered perspective of domestic abuse (Dobash and Dobash, 2004; Bates et al., 2017).
The economic and health costs attached to domestic abuse are extensive. Individuals,
communities and societies experience serious impact on health outcomes (Krug et al.,2002).
Lifetime experience of domesticabuse has been significantlyassociated with poor health amongst
men and women (Coker etal., 2002). Witnessing and experiencing domestic abuse in childhood
has been associated with depression, numerous disorders (anxiety, eating, personality,
post-traumatic stress) and suicidal behaviour (Norman et al., 2012). In the UK, domestic abuse
is a substantialissue. The Crime Survey England and Walesindicates that there are approximately
1.2m female and 700,000 male victims (Office for National Statistics, 2013). Within England
and Wales, the economic, service andhuman cost is estimated at approximately 16bn per annum
Received 29 March 2018
Revised 31 August 2018
Accepted 1 September 2018
Sarah Wallace is Research
Associate at the Cardiff
University, Cardiff, UK.
Carolyn Wallace is Reader
Integrated Care at the
University of South Wales,
Pontypridd, UK.
Joyce Kenkre is Professor of
Primary Care at the University
of South Wales, Cardiff, UK.
Jo Brayford is based at the
University of South Wales,
Cardiff, UK.
Simon Borja is based at the
Safer Wales Dyn Project,
Cardiff, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JACPR-03-2018-0353 VOL. 11 NO. 2 2019, pp.127-137, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599
j
JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICTAND PEACE RESEARCH
j
PAGE127
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