Most people think about a woman when they picture a victim of physical abuse. But statistics show that many men and boys also become victims of physical abuse at some point in their lives.
Setting aside the huge and critical topic of child abuse in general, males can be an over-looked victim of physical abuse in the context of their marriage. Even though a husband may have more physical strength and the ability to defend himself in an altercation with his wife, he may choose to avoid hitting back because he has a deep belief that it’s not right for a man to hit a woman.
Female celebrities sometimes reveal their stories of inflicting abuse on spouse or life partner, or tell-all reporters break the news instead. That’s just publicity, and it rarely affects their productive lives or impacts their income the way it can for a regular guy, a man who is the victim of physical abuse in his marriage, and finally decides to file for divorce.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports, “Nearly 1 in 4 women (22.3%) and 1 in 7 men (14.0%) aged 18 and older in the United States have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.” Lately, increased public and media focus on female victims of physical violence has completely overshadowed the plight of male victims.
Family lawyers can tell you that married men are not eager to share their experiences of physical abuse, and often delay filing for divorce because in many ways the price is just too high. Especially when drug and alcohol abuse are a significant part of the situation, men tend to overlook it in order to keep their marriage and family together.
Talking to a therapist or a counselor can be very useful, but again, an abused male will usually avoid seeking professional help until he comes to a breaking point and decides to meet with a lawyer about filing for divorce. At that point he’s made a decision to end his marriage rather than seek help for himself.
Once again, a family lawyer is often the first one to hear about the issues and help a man make sensible decisions when he’s conflicted due to his experience of physical abuse in his marriage.
If you or someone your know needs to speak confidentially to a family lawyer in New Jersey, call us for a no-obligation consultation, [number]. Or email us to make an appointment and discuss your personal situation.
