When a domestic violence discussion takes place, people often assume it’s a woman who has suffered. The truth is that both men and women suffer from domestic violence in their relationships. Battered men don’t always reach out for help, and many believe they won’t be heard if they do.
In 2008, a lawsuit filed by the National Coalition for Men went to the California Supreme Court and helped recognize that men are entitled to the same protections as woman at local domestic violence shelters.
Approximately 85 percent of all domestic-assault victims are women, so it’s understandable why people assume that women are always the victims. However, it’s important for men to be heard and to have the same protections if they’re involved in a violent relationship. Many men are victims of domestic violence that is committed by their partners, both male and female.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that over one in four men have been hurt by or have experienced a form of violence in their relationships. Around one in seven men have suffered from severe physical violence. It’s not just heterosexual couples who suffer; around two in five bisexual or gay men will suffer from intimate partner violence during their lifetimes.
It’s important for the rhetoric around domestic violence to change. If you’re a man and are hurt by your partner, you deserve protection. Your attorney can help you file for a protection order, so you can get the help you need to feel safe again. With the right support, you can get out of a bad situation. Our webpage has more information that may help.
