Abstract
Purpose
Research on intimate partner violence (IPV) is generally focused on female survivors. However, in Canada, about half of all self-reported victims of IPV are men and 1 in 5 calls to police for domestic violence are for male victims. This paper takes a comparative approach to understanding survivors’ experiences of IPV.
Methods
Across Canada, 110 female and 45 male survivors of IPV were recruited through media, social media, and listservs for a survey and interviews in 2017.
Results
Findings indicate areas of similarity (healthcare needs; difficulty accessing formal support; fear of false accusations) and areas of difference (availability of formal support; types of violence experienced most often; interactions with the justice system). Women and men reported similar types of IPV, with women experiencing higher rates of sexual violence, stalking, and damage to property. Women and men reported similar physical and mental health consequences following IPV. Men were less satisfied than women with the response of the justice system, and both female and male participants encountered gender bias within the justice system. Some women reported being turned away from services that were at their maximum capacity, and men reported difficulty identifying IPV-related services for male survivors.
Conclusions
Findings can be used by frontline service providers and the justice system to ensure that services are gender-inclusive and gender-sensitive.
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Data Availability
The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, BR. The data are not publicly available due to the privacy of research participants.
Change history
04 February 2023
ORCID for author Alexandra V. Lysova should be captured.
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Acknowledgements
Thank you to the brave survivors of IPV across Canada who shared your experiences with us, and to our research partner, the Victim Justice Network (VJN).
This article draws on research supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. (890-2015-1074)
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Roebuck, B.S., McGlinchey, D., Lysova, A.V. et al. Similar But Different: Intimate Partner Violence Experienced by Women and Men. J Fam Viol 39, 409–420 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00497-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-023-00497-8