Government guidelines leave male abuse victims out in the cold

[LJ_Reloaded]

https://www.the-newshub.com/general/government-guidelines-leave-male-abuse-victims-out-in-the-cold

Domestic violence is one of the most taboo crimes in the UK. with some figures suggesting as much as 81% of these crimes go unreported. It's also fair to say that domestic violence is one of the most misunderstood of crimes, often the most common misconception being that it involves isolated incidences of physical violence, perpetrated in anger. "In reality,domestic abuse is considerably more insidious, encompassing a wide range of behaviors designed to control,dominate and intimidate the victim,not just physically but emotionally, psychologically, sexually, financially and socially as well". Another misconception revolves around the notion of the victim. A simple search in Google of "domestic violence" will show a vast majority of hits/images directly related to women. It is a sad and undeniable fact that women are indeed victims of this atrocious crime, but as highlighted by the trial of Sharon Edwards of the murder of David Edwards, her husband of just two months, men are also victims. What's also evident from this tragic story, is that men are not perceived as such.

There is overwhelming evidence of gender bias on the topic of domestic violence, from simple Google searches to government endorsed support materials. Women are always portrayed as the victims, men the perpetrators. This dangerous bias goes through the heart of the UK police force, right to the desk of Theresa May, the country's Home Office Secretary. In December 2015 Mrs May's department released the Home Office statutory guidance on coercive control, published to coincide with a change to the Serious Crime Act 2015. This guidance is now used by the UK's police authorities to create policies around monitoring domestic violence. However there is one small part of this guidance that must be re-written if it is ever to be considered fair on both sides of the gender divide, and show the true picture of domestic violence in the UK.

Aiming to get these changes noticed is Kate Russell, a journalist and tech author, and prolific online streamer Paul aka Mahddogg, himself once a victim of domestic violence. Their aim is simple; to affect a change in government policy that would recognise any human being as a potential victim of domestic violence, regardless of gender, skin colour or sexual orientation. Kate makes it quite clear that the guidance in its current form "expressly advises gender bias against men. It's wrong, and it's morally corrupt". Indeed, anyone with access to the Equality Act 2010 will see that this guidance drawn up by the Home Office is, by the governments own definition, unlawful. But even if the law were to be changed, a campaign such as this faces an even greater obstacle: culture.

Paul is very quick to point out that there is a stigma amongst male victims in particular, something that he has faced himself. "Guidance of this kind is what keeps us from reporting our abuse, because it seems like the authorities don't care." This leads them to not only think that they won't be believed by the police, but that they also run the risk of losing their children to their abusive spouses, or even being arrested themselves. So a change in how society views male victims and what is happening to them is well overdue.

And you can tell by all the angry responses I'm gonna get for posting this, that no one on Lit cares about abused men, either.

So when one of you gets punched out by a woman, remember, you brought this upon yourself!