Domestic violence against men: unmuting the reality of the forgotten gender

Abstract

This study explored the forms of domestic violence experienced by men in contemporary South Africa. Domestic violence is mostly portrayed as a crime perpetrated by men against women. The harsh reality, however, is that women are also culprits and active participants in the commission of the crime. Unfortunately, a heavy silence masks this assertion, and only a few studies give credence to this, particularly in South Africa. From the findings of a just completed doctoral study which utilised a qualitative approach, this article examines the various forms of domestic violence experienced by men in South Africa. The study was conducted in three South African provinces: Gauteng, Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal. Thirty (30) participants were interviewed for the study. Findings indicate that the dominant forms of domestic violence against men are physical, verbal, emotional, financial and legal abuse. The implications of these findings for an inclusive campaign against domestic violence are discussed.