Overlooking Domestic Violence Against Men: Shedding Light on a Neglected Issue
Domestic violence that affects individuals irrespective of their gender, but law-makers has purposely overlooked the domestic violence against men.
The issue of violence against men remains Overlooked, misunderstood, and even trivialized. Such ignorance is injustice to the countless male victims of domestic violence.
The Comedy Dilemma: A Double Standard
Society’s perception of violence varies depending on the genders involved. Notably, instances of women committing violent acts against men are portrayed humorously in the media, especially in comedy shows. However, if you reverse the genders, where a woman is the victim, it is seen as a serious crime. This double standard not only undermines the severity of violence but also reinforces harmful gender biases.
A Glance at the Law: Neglecting Male Victims
It’s disheartening to observe that lawmakers seem to have turned a blind eye to the issue of domestic violence against men. While it is not possible that law-makers are unaware of social issues, it appears that they have deliberately or purposefully overlooked the men’s issues and the domestic violence with men. This neglect might stem from a strategic desire to capitalize on sentiments surrounding female victimhood.
Historical Perspective: Unveiling the Hidden Pain
It is believed that India has been male dominated for centuries but the truth is that they believe so only because of lack of comprehensive understanding of history. The truth is that, in the past, those in power, especially rulers and powerful figures such as ‘Samant’,’Jamindar’ and people associated with them, had considerable control over both defining crimes and determining punishment. The historical legacy of men being subjected to unjust laws is often overshadowed by discussions of patriarchy.
Breaking the Silence: Men’s Struggles Unveiled
Throughout history, men have faced systemic hardships, being forced into servitude under rich or powerful individuals in society. A notable example is the concept of “bonded labor”, in which the cycle of slavery was continued for generations. The pain and trauma experienced by men has been largely ignored and concealed by law makers by labelling it as patriarchy. Instead of acknowledging the effects over male emotions, society perpetuates harmful notions such as “Men don’t cry,” “Men don’t feel pain,” and “Men are protectors.” Unfortunately, this successful propaganda campaign further obscured genuineness of men’s issues.
The DV Act of 2005: limits legal recourse for men
In 2005, Indian lawmakers introduced the “Domestic Violence Act, 2005” (DV Act) to address domestic violence issues. Again, this law ignores domestic violence with male victims. The DV Act ignores the experiences of male victims while it focuses on provisions for female victims.
The disproportionate emphasis of the DV Act perpetuates a skewed view of domestic violence and limits legal recourse for men.
Striving for Gender-Neutral Solutions
There is a need of an inclusive and gender-neutral approach to tackle domestic violence. By acknowledging the presence of male victims and recognizing their issues, experiences and trauma, society can take an important step towards ending deeply rooted gender biases.
For gender equality in a true sense, it becomes necessary to create a comprehensive legal framework that protects all individuals regardless of their gender from the horrors of domestic violence.
