Describe How Men Have Discriminated Against in the United States (Essay Sample)

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Domestic Violence against Men
Introduction
Due to neglect of their rights within a family setup and many other factors, men have increasingly suffered from domestic violence. Domestic violence includes emotional, physical and sexual abuse that happen in couple relationships or among family members. In the past, domestic violence was taken to be perpetrated only against women. However, reality has proven that men also suffer from domestic violence. This is regardless of their sexual orientations. Surveys have shown that nearly 4% of men in the age bracket of 16-59 suffered domestic violence in 2014/25. This essay assesses some of the violence that men go through, why they go through them, and how it affects them.
Domestic violence against men has endured for many centuries. However, it has largely been a hidden issue. Today, many male victims of domestic violence are speaking out as they seek assistance and support. There have been many examples of violent women who have suppressed their women or abused them all over the news. Statistics by the UK government have shown that one in six men are most likely to be victims of domestic violence at any given point in their lives (Gerdes 15).
The abuse of men is similar in form to the abuse against women. It includes physical abuse, intimidation or threats, violence, sexual, psychological, emotional, verbal, and financial abuse. It may also take the form of property damage and social isolation. Most men experience many different forms of abuse. Another form of abuse that is more particular to men is legal and administrative abuse (Finn 1). This refers to using institutions to inflict continued abuse on the victim. An example is taking out false restraining orders or denying a victim the access to his children. Men have also been forced against their wills by their wives or partners to have sex with them. This is what is referred to as sexual abuse. Men have also been subject to shoves, kicks, hits, slaps, and chokes from their women. Some are threatened of violence by use of a weapon like a knives (Wilson 27).
In an interview with John (name changed for anonymity at request of the respondent), who works at a bar, he admitted that he is always petrified whenever he goes home from work and meets her car in the drive. He then has to drive away and be alone for a whole hour, preparing for the barrage he was most likely going to face. He admitted that he lives in terror and has to be very cautious around his wife. This, he says has gone on for nearly 10 years. Many times, he has secretly tried to commit suicide, but when he thinks of his children and what they may go through, he just cannot bring himself to do it (John 1).
One reason why the cases of domestic violence against men has escalated is their fear of disclosing the information about the violence (Wilkins 1). Some of the barriers to disclosure include the possibility of being told they must have done something to provoke the abuse. Most men suffer embarrassment, shame, and social stigma of not being strong enough to protect themselves. Some even fear that in case they disclose about the abuse, they will not have any place to escape to. Intimate partner violence cases may make men to fear that their partners may end up separating with them and take the children in case they disclose, and so choose to remain silent. And because of the current stereotype that males are the perpetrators of domestic violence, they may be falsely arrested on that premise (Moore 1).
Another reason why the issue has successfully eluded the attention of the police and the legal system is because of the women’s tactic in hiding the case. When confronted, Jennifer Freyd of the University of Oregon explain that women often claim themselves as the victims of the violence. Adding a few tears to their lamentations are enough to convince the police that they are truly the victims and not the perpetrators. This has been the sole reason for the false arrest of the victimized men, who have to spend their lives in prisons for crimes that they themselves were victims to. According to Freyd, women can effectively use DARVO to effectively perpetrate the crime. DARVO stands for Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. This implies that the women can deny that they have not been the perpetrators of the domestic violence. They can be the offenders and yet still convincingly show how they are the actual victims (Oregon Counseling 1).
Men’s inability to recognize domestic violence against them early has also significantly contributed to the increased rate of the violence against men. As the relationship begins, the wife or female partner may appear attentive, protective and generous in manners that later on turn out to have been secretly controlling and frightening. At the start, the abuse may appear as isolated incidences. The partner may apologize and give the promise never to mistreat or abuse the man again. However, with time, it may grow to become a common thing, or even a daily thing. When this happens, the man might still be reluctant to report the matter, hoping that the wife will be true to her promise and avoid any more violence (Mayo Clinic Staff 1).
In comparison, the gay men are more likely to suffer domestic violence unnoticed than even the straight men. This is because they may be very reluctant to report any abuse that they are going through. In many cases, this is because they fear that they may reveal their sexual orientation. The perpetrators may even threaten them with possible ‘outing’ of their HIV status or their sexual preferences. The perpetrators may even appeal to the homophobic nature of the police and the justice system to boast that the victims may never be helped (Moore 1).
Male victims of family or domestic violence are many and varied. The man may lose the feeling of safety and therefore always be afraid. Just like John who took an hour preparing for her wife’s quarrels every day after work, many men may feel unsafe all the time they are around their couples. Men who have been subject to domestic violence may also develop feelings of shame and guilt. They may feel guilty without knowing any reason why they are, they just feel they have done something wrong and are going to be quarreled with their wives. They may also feel ashamed at all times because of their inability to defend themselves from the mistreatment from their wives yet the society expects a man to be the stronger gender (Gerdes 20).
The men who have been victimized by their wives may have difficulty in trusting others. Due to their stigmatization, which often results from the guilt and shame, many men may have trouble in trusting all other people. It may be so intense that the man may sometimes need therapy or psychological assistance. These individuals may also feel lonely and isolated. They stay away from others because they fear that everyone will be able to read through their faces and see the shame and the guilt (Mayo Clinic Staff 1).
Being mishandled by one’s wife is very annoying. If this anger is not handled and expressed appropriately, it can lead to anger management problems. The individual may end up having unresolved anger. The anger can develop into anxiety and flashbacks that may become very stressful to an individual. The man’s work performan...