Marginalizing the Battered Male

Abstract

Being marginalized in Western society involves denial of access to resources, inability to assume a dominant identity, and the perception by others as a deviant. For marginalized men in American society, their deviant status can result in others' questioning their masculinity. Fearing emasculation, many men attempt to hide or deny those aspects of their identities or lives that result in this, such as being abused, which is normally an ascribed role for women. This paper analyzes the narratives of 12 marginalized, that is, abused men. Through interviews and Internet postings, information was obtained on these men's experiences, beliefs, and reactions to their violent marriages and how their fear of being feminized impacted their relationships, often prolonging the violence.