Mon, Mar 27, 2023 page3

• FEATURE: Male victims of abuse become more willing to report

  • By Chiu Chi-jou and Lin Hui-chin / Staff reporters
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  The proportion of the nation’s male victims of domestic violence is growing, from 16 percent five years ago to 23.4 percent last year, nearly one-fifth of the cases, Ministry of Health and Welfare data showed.

  Men have become more willing to report cases amid government efforts to make men aware that psychological abuse is also a form of violence, and asking for help does not harm masculinity, Kaohsiung Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Prevention Center director Lee Hui-ling (李慧玲) said.

  Nearly 56,500 domestic violence reports were recorded last year, an increase of 3,089 people compared with 2021, comprising 43,255 females and 13,234 males.

  

  A man in apparent distress is pictured in Taipei in an undated photograph.

  Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times

  The proportion of male victims grew from 16 percent five years ago to 23.4 percent last year.

  As men usually have an advantage in physiology and strength over women, many male victims of domestic violence often suppress their negative emotions to “save face,” Department of Protective Services Director-General Chang Hsiu-yuan (張秀鴛) said.

  However, the government has continuously promoted awareness of domestic violence and gender equality, encouraging men to bravely ask for help, she said.

  Health ministry statistics show that 6,539 male victims of domestic violence in Kaohsiung reported their cases in 2021, the highest number among the nation’s six special municipalities.

  Even though the number of reports from men has risen, there are likely many more cases that do not get reported, Lee said.

  Verbal and psychological abuse were the most common types of cases reported by men, while some cases reported by females involve a man fighting back after being first struck by a woman, Chang said.

  People are often not aware that emotional blackmail and psychological abuse are forms of violence, Lee said.

  While being on the receiving end of rage or derogatory language is a form of abuse, a person should remain in control of their emotions and not fight back, she said, adding that this makes the situation worse.

  Rational communication is the foundation of building a harmonious intimate relationship, Chang said, adding that professional assistance should be sought if couples have trouble resolving conflicts or preventing abusive behavior.

  Male victims of domestic violence are often unwilling to report their cases for two main reasons, one being fear of being mocked and wanting to retain a sense of masculinity, Taiwan Men Foundation chairperson Chen Po-wei (陳柏偉) said.

  The other is that many victims are unaware that they are being abused, and might mistake threats to safety as normal intimate contact, not realizing the abuse until after he has permitted it to occur, he said.

  Same-sex couples face additional barriers, as those who are not “out of the closet” might fear being revealed by making a domestic violence report, or might not be ready to tell another person about their private life, Chen said.

  The Taiwan Intimate Partner Violence Danger Assessment is based on the assumption of females being the victims of male domestic abuse, and the tool might not be relevant to male victims, same-sex couples or transgender people, so revisions or different versions of the form should be made, he said.

  Additionally, domestic violence shelters are designed for women, so government agencies should be ready to find a hotel room to shelter a male victim in emergency cases, he said.

  Meanwhile, health ministry data showed that 11,156 calls were made to its male-care hotline last year, an increase of about 20 percent compared with 2021.

  The most common reasons for calling were “marital relationship,” followed by “family matters,” surpassing the number of calls for depression-related problems.

  Men in their 40s were the most common age group of callers, followed by men in their 30s, with those in their 50s being the third-most common.

  The ministry’s free male-care hotline can be reached at 0800-013-999, from 9am to 11pm, seven days a week. Callers can speak with a counselor on a range of issues beyond family or intimate relationships — financial difficulties, work stress or illness, for example.
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