Violence against men

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.