Female Perpetrated Domestic Abuse: A Study Exploring the Hidden Experiences of Male Victims through a Thematic Analysis of Online Blogs

Abstract

Despite a great deal of academic literature surrounding domestic abuse in general, it is fair to suggest that the majority of research focuses on male perpetrated domestic abuse and the female victim. This therefore neglects the complexity of domestic abuse as a crime, whilst also undermining and causing further implications for the unrecognised and under researched male victim. Considering how much extensive research has been undertaken to explore female victim experiences of domestic abuse, this study sets out to explore the ‘hidden’ male victim. It will be evidenced through the collection and thematic analysis of eight online male victim blogs, that although little research exists on this area of domestic abuse, the stigmatisation, subjection of abuse, damaging effects and further complications caused by the abuse are just as prominent, if not more prominent and destructive for male victims of domestic abuse than their female counterpart.