Violence against men

Sometimes, men and boys are hurt.

This can happen at home. It can also happen during wars.

In wars, men are often picked to be soldiers. This is called a draft.

This means they must join the army.

Many men are afraid to ask for help. They may feel shy or worried. They might think people will laugh at them.

Some people do not see this problem. They might think only women get hurt. This is not true.

It is good to help everyone. We should make sure all people feel safe.

Violence against men means acts of harm done to men or boys.

Many men face violence at home. This is called domestic violence. In the United States, about 42% of men have felt physical violence from a partner. Some men do not tell the police. They may fear people will laugh at them. They may feel they must be strong. This can make it hard to get help.

Men are also targets during wars. Sometimes, countries use a draft. A draft means men must join the army.

In some wars, men and boys are singled out. This happens because people think they can fight. This has happened for a long time. In the Kosovo War, most civilian victims were men.

Some men face harm because of who they love. In many places, being gay is against the law. In 67 countries, it is a crime. Some places even use the death penalty for it. This is a very hard part of history.

Violence against men involves harmful acts directed at men or boys.

This topic is important because it helps us understand how different people experience harm. Many people have different ideas about how serious these acts are. Studies show that society often views violence differently based on who is involved. For example, people might not report a man hitting another man as often as they report a man hitting a woman. This can make it hard for men to get the help they need.

Some researchers call this a paradox because men are often at a higher risk for violent crime but feel less fear of it.

Many men face challenges when trying to report domestic violence. This is violence that happens between people in a relationship. In the United States, a survey from 2016 to 2017 found that about 42.3% of men experienced physical violence from a partner. In 2021, about 1,079 men were killed by an intimate partner in the U.S. Men often worry that people will laugh at them or not believe them. They might fear they will be seen as the one causing the problem instead of the victim. This can lead to a "culture of silence" where men do not ask for support.

History shows that men have also faced harm because of who they love. In the Middle Ages, men who were gay were often punished for what was called "sodomy." This punishment sometimes included death. Today, things are different but still difficult in many places. An ILGA report from 2020 found that homosexuality is against the law in 67 out of 193 UN member states. In countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and Nigeria, the death penalty can still be used for homosexual acts. Research shows that LGBT+ men also face higher rates of violence from partners than straight men.

During wars, men and boys are often singled out for harm. This usually happens because people assume men are fighters or soldiers. This idea has existed for a very long time. For example, ancient Roman records show the mass killing of men in conquered towns. During the Kosovo War, men made up more than 90% of civilian casualties. In some places, countries use a "draft" to make men join the military. This is called conscription. Most countries only draft men, though Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands draft both men and women.

Sexual violence against men is another serious issue that is often not talked about enough. In a CDC survey from 2010 to 2012, about 1.27 million men were victims of rape. In Australia, police recorded 4,100 male victims of sexual violence in 2016. This is much lower than the 18,900 female victims recorded that same year. Men often face unfair stereotypes that make it harder to speak up. Some people wrongly believe that men are always "invincible" or cannot be victims. These ideas can stop men from seeking help after something bad happens.

Violence against men describes harmful acts committed disproportionately or exclusively against men and boys.

This subject is important for understanding how social attitudes and gender roles shape human experiences of harm. Researchers study these patterns to see how society responds to different victims. Often, the perceived seriousness of violence changes based on the gender of both the victim and the perpetrator. For example, a 2023 study found that people, particularly women, are less likely to accept violence against women than violence against men. This creates a complex landscape where certain types of harm are more visible than others.

Social perceptions often create barriers that prevent men from seeking help. Many men face stigmatization due to socially constructed gender stereotypes. These stereotypes can make it difficult for a victim to even describe what happened to them. Men often fear they will be ridiculed, dismissed, or even accused of being the perpetrator if they report intimate partner violence.

This leads to significant underreporting. Law enforcement can also be part of this issue. Male officers may show reluctance to file reports when a man is a victim of domestic violence. International law scholar Solange Mouthaan notes that in conflict zones, sexual violence against men is often ignored in favor of focusing on women and children.

Domestic violence, or violence between intimate partners, follows specific patterns. While both men and women experience it, the types of acts often differ. Research suggests women are more likely to use objects, kicking, or biting. In contrast, men are more likely to use choking or strangling. In the United States, a CDC survey from 2016-2017 found that 42.3% of men had experienced physical violence by a partner. This is very close to the 42.0% reported by women. However, the severity differs, with 32.5% of women reporting severe violence compared to 24.6% of men. In 2021, approximately 1,079 men were killed by intimate partners in the U.S., while 1,690 women were killed.

Historical and cultural factors also play a major role in how men are treated. For example, male homosexuality has faced violent persecution throughout history. During the Middle Ages and early modern period, men were often punished for "sodomy." This could result in capital punishment. Today, the ILGA reported in 2020 that homosexuality is criminalized in 67 of 193 UN member states. In countries like Afghanistan, Iran, and Nigeria, the death penalty is still a legal possibility for homosexual acts.

LGBT+ men also face higher rates of violence. The Human Rights Campaign notes that 40% of gay men have experienced sexual violence other than rape, compared to 21% of straight men.

In times of war, men and boys are frequently singled out for mass killings. This is often due to the assumption that men are potential combatants. This form of gender-based violence has deep roots in history. Roman records describe the mass killing of men in conquered settlements. During the Kosovo War, civilian males made up more than 90% of all civilian casualties. Additionally, many countries use conscription, or the draft. This is the compulsory enlistment of people into national service. While most countries only draft men, Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands conscript both men and women.

Sexual violence against men is a significant but often minimized issue. A CDC survey from 2010-2012 found that 1,270,000 women were raped, while 1,267,000 men were made to penetrate. Despite these similar numbers, the CDC's fact sheet summary only mentioned the women. In Australia, police recorded 4,100 male victims of sexual violence in 2016, which was 17.8% of all victims. Male victimization is often dismissed due to harmful stereotypes. These include the idea that men are "sexually insatiable" or possess "male invincibility." Such myths suggest a man can always protect himself or that his physical reactions mean a crime was consensual.

Finally, these issues connect to broader social and institutional systems. In the military, sexual assault against men is a persistent challenge. A 2017 study in the Journal of Peace Research found nearly 1% of active-duty servicemen reported sexual assault in one year. This is often made worse by the hierarchical nature of military life and informal socialization, such as sexualized hazing. In schools, sexual harassment has a heavy impact. Research by Gruber and Fineran shows that sexual harassment impacts academic performance and school attachment more significantly than general bullying. For men, this harassment is often linked to homophobic taunting, which targets both their gender and their perceived sexuality.