It is a myth that men do not experience physical violence from partners. Female partners may be much smaller but, as most men do not retaliate, many suffer violence from their female partners. Women are also more likely to use a weapon or to attack when a man is in a vulnerable situation, e.g. asleep.m Physical abuse, like other forms of abuse, is often a tactic used to control. Those who use physical violence may do so if it is an effective form of abuse to use. It is a way of policing or controlling your behaviour. If more subtle forms of emotional abuse do not achieve what the abuser wants to achieve, they may resort to violence.
Despite what some people might think, it is not necessarily a loss of control. Rather, it can be both controlled and controlling. It is usually aimed at areas of the body which can be concealed by clothing so no one else can see the injuries. Where there have been injuries to more exposed parts of the body for example; face neck and hands, the abuser expects you to make an excuse to explain it away. This can be humiliating, having to explain to friends/family/colleagues an obvious injury that you know was caused by your partner, hiding abuse in plain sight. The abuser can then rely on the threat of future violence as a means of control – any future incidents exist in the shadows of the worst incident.
Physical violence can include, but is not limited to:
Do you:
The severity of injuries experienced by men varies as it does for women, but the intent behind the violence is the same – control. Men who tell us about physical abuse often dismiss or understate injuries, telling us they weren’t injured despite having bruising or scratches. Some, while saying they are not afraid of their partner have told us that they sleep in a separate locked bedroom as violence is instigated when they are in bed or asleep.
It is important that people are aware that men can be at risk of serious harm or homicide.
