Canadian Men’s Experiences with Female-perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence: An Investigation of Masculinity and Help-seeking Behaviours

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Talbot, Spencer
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University of Guelph
Abstract

There is substantial research attention on victimized women’s experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV), which has made great strides as a method of offering support and awareness to a vulnerable population. However, there remains a dearth in the literature with regard to research on men’s experiences as victims of female-perpetrated IPV. This study aimed to address this gap by examining men’s experiences as recipients of female perpetrated IPV. In the present study, 36 men from Canada, aged 22-50, took part in a survey that utilized open-ended questions to investigate the male IPV experience. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the men’s responses which revealed four key areas of discussion: (1) the extent and forms of IPV experienced, (2) men’s decisions on whether to stay in a relationship or leave, (3) men’s views of themselves, and (4) men’s help-seeking behaviours. The findings are in line with other IPV research indicating that men experience a variety of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. Men reported that these experiences affected their views of themselves in a number of ways, including impacting their feelings of masculinity. When seeking help, men described using both formal and informal support systems to assist them with their IPV experiences. This research discusses past research on male survivors in Canada as well as internationally, followed by suggestions for future directions in the research on men’s experiences with IPV.

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Keywords
Masculinity, Intimate Partner Violence, IPV, Help-seeking, Female perpetrator
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